INS NYC 2024 Program

Poster	Poster Session 04 Program Schedule 02/15/2024 12:00 pm - 01:15 pm Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60) Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging \| Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation \| Teleneuropsychology/Technology Final Abstract #50 tDCS Reduces Depression and State Anxiety Symptoms in Older Adults from the Augmenting Cognitive Training in Older Adults Study (ACT) Hanna Hausman, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States Gene Alexander, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States Ronald Cohen, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States Michael Marsiske, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States Steven DeKosky, University of Florida, Gainesvilee, United States Georg Hishaw, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States Andrew O'Shea, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States Jessica Kraft, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States Yunfeng Dai, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States Samuel Wu, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States Adam Woods, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States Category: Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation Keyword 1: neurostimulation Keyword 2: aging (normal) Keyword 3: anxiety Objective: Pharmacological interventions for depression and anxiety in older adults often have significant side effects, presenting the need for more tolerable alternatives. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising non-pharmacological intervention for depression in clinical populations. However, its effects on depression and anxiety symptoms, particularly in older adults from the general public, are understudied. This study aims to assess tDCS efficacy in reducing psychological symptoms in older adults from the Augmenting Cognitive Training in Older Adults (ACT) trial. We hypothesize that active stimulation will yield greater reductions in depression and state anxiety compared to sham post-intervention. We also explore tDCS effects in subsamples characterized by baseline symptom severity and assess outcomes at the one-year follow-up. Participants and Methods: A non-clinical sample of 378 older adults (mean age = 71.5) from ACT completed a 12-week tDCS intervention combined with 40 hours of cognitive or education training. Cognitive training involved completing adaptive and computerized attention, processing speed, and working memory tasks. Education training involved watching National Geographic Channel videos on history, nature, and wildlife. Participants were randomized to receive active or sham tDCS during their training sessions, daily for two weeks and then weekly for ten weeks. Electrodes were placed at F3 (cathode) and F4 (anode) using the 10-20 measurement system to target the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The active group received 2mA of current for 20 minutes. The sham group received 2mA for 30 seconds, then no current for the remaining 20 minutes. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at baseline, post-intervention, and one-year. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to assess the effect of tDCS group on changes in depression, state, and trait anxiety from baseline to post-intervention and baseline to one-year controlling for demographics, training type, adherence, and baseline measures. Participants were then divided by baseline symptom severity, and the same regression models were conducted on these subgroups: STAI state and trait < 39 mild symptoms (state anxiety n=319, trait anxiety n=334), ≥ 39 moderate/severe symptoms (state anxiety n=59, trait anxiety n=44), BDI-II minimal symptoms = 0-13 (n=362), mild symptoms = 14-19 (n=16). Results: The active tDCS group demonstrated greater reductions in depression and state anxiety compared to sham post-intervention, particularly in individuals with mild depression (b=-9.67, p=0.03) and moderate/severe state anxiety at baseline (b=-5.92, p=0.01). Notably, raw change in symptom reduction in the moderate/severe state anxiety active tDCS group was approximately twice as large as the respective sham group. Furthermore, the moderate/severe state anxiety active tDCS group also maintained greater symptom reductions at one-year (b=-4.03, p=0.048). Conclusions: The present findings offer promising support for the clinical efficacy of tDCS in improving depression and anxiety symptoms among non-clinical older adults. Importantly, tDCS is non-invasive, low-cost, portable, has a low side effect profile, and may be an appealing alternative to pharmacological interventions in older adults. Furthermore, findings highlight the importance of considering symptom severity when identifying who may benefit most from this intervention in non-clinical populations, informing future efforts for personalized treatment approaches.

Poster

02/15/2024
12:00 pm - 01:15 pm
Room: Shubert Complex (Posters 1-60)

Poster Session 04: Neuroimaging | Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation | Teleneuropsychology/Technology

Final Abstract #50

tDCS Reduces Depression and State Anxiety Symptoms in Older Adults from the Augmenting Cognitive Training in Older Adults Study (ACT)

Hanna Hausman, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Gene Alexander, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
Ronald Cohen, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Michael Marsiske, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Steven DeKosky, University of Florida, Gainesvilee, United States
Georg Hishaw, University of Arizona, Tucson, United States
Andrew O'Shea, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Jessica Kraft, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Yunfeng Dai, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Samuel Wu, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States
Adam Woods, University of Florida, Gainesville, United States

Category: Neurostimulation/Neuromodulation

Keyword 1: neurostimulation
Keyword 2: aging (normal)
Keyword 3: anxiety

Objective:

Pharmacological interventions for depression and anxiety in older adults often have significant side effects, presenting the need for more tolerable alternatives. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a promising non-pharmacological intervention for depression in clinical populations. However, its effects on depression and anxiety symptoms, particularly in older adults from the general public, are understudied. This study aims to assess tDCS efficacy in reducing psychological symptoms in older adults from the Augmenting Cognitive Training in Older Adults (ACT) trial. We hypothesize that active stimulation will yield greater reductions in depression and state anxiety compared to sham post-intervention. We also explore tDCS effects in subsamples characterized by baseline symptom severity and assess outcomes at the one-year follow-up.

Participants and Methods:

A non-clinical sample of 378 older adults (mean age = 71.5) from ACT completed a 12-week tDCS intervention combined with 40 hours of cognitive or education training. Cognitive training involved completing adaptive and computerized attention, processing speed, and working memory tasks. Education training involved watching National Geographic Channel videos on history, nature, and wildlife. Participants were randomized to receive active or sham tDCS during their training sessions, daily for two weeks and then weekly for ten weeks. Electrodes were placed at F3 (cathode) and F4 (anode) using the 10-20 measurement system to target the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The active group received 2mA of current for 20 minutes. The sham group received 2mA for 30 seconds, then no current for the remaining 20 minutes. Participants completed the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) at baseline, post-intervention, and one-year. Multiple linear regressions were conducted to assess the effect of tDCS group on changes in depression, state, and trait anxiety from baseline to post-intervention and baseline to one-year controlling for demographics, training type, adherence, and baseline measures. Participants were then divided by baseline symptom severity, and the same regression models were conducted on these subgroups: STAI state and trait < 39 mild symptoms (state anxiety n=319, trait anxiety n=334), ≥ 39 moderate/severe symptoms (state anxiety n=59, trait anxiety n=44), BDI-II minimal symptoms = 0-13 (n=362), mild symptoms = 14-19 (n=16).

Results:

The active tDCS group demonstrated greater reductions in depression and state anxiety compared to sham post-intervention, particularly in individuals with mild depression (b=-9.67, p=0.03) and moderate/severe state anxiety at baseline (b=-5.92, p=0.01). Notably, raw change in symptom reduction in the moderate/severe state anxiety active tDCS group was approximately twice as large as the respective sham group. Furthermore, the moderate/severe state anxiety active tDCS group also maintained greater symptom reductions at one-year (b=-4.03, p=0.048).

Conclusions:

The present findings offer promising support for the clinical efficacy of tDCS in improving depression and anxiety symptoms among non-clinical older adults. Importantly, tDCS is non-invasive, low-cost, portable, has a low side effect profile, and may be an appealing alternative to pharmacological interventions in older adults. Furthermore, findings highlight the importance of considering symptom severity when identifying who may benefit most from this intervention in non-clinical populations, informing future efforts for personalized treatment approaches.