Study investigates effect of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in dementia

A recently published review led by George Mikellides, Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the Medical School, investigates how the method of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) can contribute to improving cognitive function and quality of life in people with dementia. The review, which was published in the journal Current Aging Science, was written in collaboration with UNIC medical students Amir Arshia Emam Jomeh and Eleanor Arati Roy as well as Dr Marios Kyriazis, Scientific Director at the National Gerontology Centre (Cyprus).

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive technique of brain stimulation that is increasingly being investigated for its therapeutic potential in cognitive impairment associated with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. High-frequency stimulation over the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex (DLPFC) has consistently demonstrated improvements in memory, executive function, and attention.

‘This narrative review synthesises current evidence on rTMS in dementia, examining clinical efficacy, neurobiological mechanisms, and the potential for combining treatment with cognitive training and pharmacotherapy. It serves as a practical guide for clinical use, offering new hope for therapeutic interventions aimed at functional brain restoration’, commented Dr Mikellides.