Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation and Cognitive Rehabilitation: Two Distinct Treatments for Improving Neuropsychological Symptoms in Older Adults with Mild Alzheimer’s Disease

Objectives: Alzheimer’s disease is one of the most pressing challenges for older adults, often leading to neuropsychological symptoms. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and a short-term cognitive rehabilitation protocol in improving neuropsychological symptoms in older adults with mild Alzheimer’s disease. Materials and Methods: The research utilized a quasi-experimental design with two experimental groups and one control group, following a pre-test and post-test approach. The study population included all individuals aged 65 and older diagnosed with mild Alzheimer’s disease who visited neurologists in 2022. From this population, 60 individuals were selected through convenience sampling and randomly assigned to two experimental groups and one control group (20 participants per group). In the first experimental group, tDCS was administered in 10 weekly sessions, each lasting 20 minutes. In the second experimental group, a short-term cognitive rehabilitation program, based on Luria's (1963) healthy functional substitution approach, was conducted over 9 weekly sessions, each lasting 90 minutes. The content validity of the rehabilitation program was confirmed by experts. The control group received no intervention. Post-tests were conducted one week after the interventions, followed by a one-month follow-up assessment. The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) was used to collect data. Repeated measures ANOVA was performed using SPSS version 23 for data analysis. Results: Both interventions significantly improved neuropsychological symptoms at both the post-test and follow-up stages. However, while the short-term cognitive rehabilitation group demonstrated significant differences in symptom scores between the post-test and follow-up phases, the tDCS intervention maintained its effectiveness during the follow-up period. Conclusion: Both tDCS and short-term cognitive rehabilitation can be utilized to improve neuropsychological symptoms in older adults with mild Alzheimer’s disease. However, the sustained effects of tDCS during the follow-up period highlight its potential for longer-term benefits.