Bi-Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Treadmill Walking Decreases Motor Cortical Activity in Young and Older Adults
Background: Walking in the “real world” involves motor and cognitive processes. In relation to this, declines in both motor function and cognition contribute to age-related gait dysfunction. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and treadmill walking (STW) have potential to improve gait, pa...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2021-12-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2021.739998/full |
| _version_ | 1818841841527685120 |
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| author | Diego Orcioli-Silva Diego Orcioli-Silva Aisha Islam Mark R. Baker Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi Lynn Rochester Annette Pantall |
| author_facet | Diego Orcioli-Silva Diego Orcioli-Silva Aisha Islam Mark R. Baker Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi Lynn Rochester Annette Pantall |
| author_sort | Diego Orcioli-Silva |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background: Walking in the “real world” involves motor and cognitive processes. In relation to this, declines in both motor function and cognition contribute to age-related gait dysfunction. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and treadmill walking (STW) have potential to improve gait, particularly during dual-task walking (DTW); walking whilst performing a cognitive task. Our aims were to analyze effects of combined anodal tDCS + STW intervention on cortical activity and gait during DTW.Methods: Twenty-three young adults (YA) and 21 older adults (OA) were randomly allocated to active or sham tDCS stimulation groups. Participants performed 5-min of mixed treadmill walking (alternating 30 s bouts of STW and DTW) before and after a 20-min intervention of active or sham tDCS + STW. Anodal electrodes were placed over the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the vertex (Cz) using 9 cm2 electrodes at 0.6 mA. Cortical activity of the PFC, primary motor cortex (M1), premotor cortex (PMC), and supplementary motor area (SMA) bilaterally were recorded using a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system. Oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) levels were analyzed as indicators of cortical activity. An accelerometer measured gait parameters. We calculated the difference between DTW and STW for HbO2 and gait parameters. We applied linear mixed effects models which included age group (YA vs. OA), stimulation condition (sham vs. active), and time (pre- vs. post-intervention) as fixed effects. Treadmill belt speed was a covariate. Partial correlation tests were also performed.Results: A main effect of age group was observed. OA displayed higher activity bilaterally in the PFC and M1, unilaterally in the right PMC and higher gait variability than YA. M1 activity decreased in both YA and OA following active tDCS + STW. There was no overall effect of tDCS + STW on PFC activity or gait parameters. However, negative correlations were observed between changes in left PFC and stride length variability following active tDCS + STW intervention.Conclusion: Increased activity in multiple cortical areas during DTW in OA may act as a compensatory mechanism. Reduction in M1 activity following active tDCS + STW with no observed gait changes suggests improved neural efficiency. |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-19T04:32:29Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-39026097548346d8b404559fdb08033e |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1663-4365 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-19T04:32:29Z |
| publishDate | 2021-12-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-39026097548346d8b404559fdb08033e2022-12-21T20:35:50ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience1663-43652021-12-011310.3389/fnagi.2021.739998739998Bi-Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Treadmill Walking Decreases Motor Cortical Activity in Young and Older AdultsDiego Orcioli-Silva0Diego Orcioli-Silva1Aisha Islam2Mark R. Baker3Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi4Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi5Lynn Rochester6Annette Pantall7Institute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, BrazilGraduate Program in Movement Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, BrazilTranslational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomTranslational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomInstitute of Biosciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, BrazilGraduate Program in Movement Sciences, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rio Claro, BrazilTranslational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomTranslational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United KingdomBackground: Walking in the “real world” involves motor and cognitive processes. In relation to this, declines in both motor function and cognition contribute to age-related gait dysfunction. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and treadmill walking (STW) have potential to improve gait, particularly during dual-task walking (DTW); walking whilst performing a cognitive task. Our aims were to analyze effects of combined anodal tDCS + STW intervention on cortical activity and gait during DTW.Methods: Twenty-three young adults (YA) and 21 older adults (OA) were randomly allocated to active or sham tDCS stimulation groups. Participants performed 5-min of mixed treadmill walking (alternating 30 s bouts of STW and DTW) before and after a 20-min intervention of active or sham tDCS + STW. Anodal electrodes were placed over the left prefrontal cortex (PFC) and the vertex (Cz) using 9 cm2 electrodes at 0.6 mA. Cortical activity of the PFC, primary motor cortex (M1), premotor cortex (PMC), and supplementary motor area (SMA) bilaterally were recorded using a functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) system. Oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO2) levels were analyzed as indicators of cortical activity. An accelerometer measured gait parameters. We calculated the difference between DTW and STW for HbO2 and gait parameters. We applied linear mixed effects models which included age group (YA vs. OA), stimulation condition (sham vs. active), and time (pre- vs. post-intervention) as fixed effects. Treadmill belt speed was a covariate. Partial correlation tests were also performed.Results: A main effect of age group was observed. OA displayed higher activity bilaterally in the PFC and M1, unilaterally in the right PMC and higher gait variability than YA. M1 activity decreased in both YA and OA following active tDCS + STW. There was no overall effect of tDCS + STW on PFC activity or gait parameters. However, negative correlations were observed between changes in left PFC and stride length variability following active tDCS + STW intervention.Conclusion: Increased activity in multiple cortical areas during DTW in OA may act as a compensatory mechanism. Reduction in M1 activity following active tDCS + STW with no observed gait changes suggests improved neural efficiency.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2021.739998/fullnon-invasive brain stimulationfunctional near-infrared spectroscopylocomotioncognitionageing |
| spellingShingle | Diego Orcioli-Silva Diego Orcioli-Silva Aisha Islam Mark R. Baker Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi Lilian Teresa Bucken Gobbi Lynn Rochester Annette Pantall Bi-Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Treadmill Walking Decreases Motor Cortical Activity in Young and Older Adults Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience non-invasive brain stimulation functional near-infrared spectroscopy locomotion cognition ageing |
| title | Bi-Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Treadmill Walking Decreases Motor Cortical Activity in Young and Older Adults |
| title_full | Bi-Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Treadmill Walking Decreases Motor Cortical Activity in Young and Older Adults |
| title_fullStr | Bi-Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Treadmill Walking Decreases Motor Cortical Activity in Young and Older Adults |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bi-Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Treadmill Walking Decreases Motor Cortical Activity in Young and Older Adults |
| title_short | Bi-Anodal Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Treadmill Walking Decreases Motor Cortical Activity in Young and Older Adults |
| title_sort | bi anodal transcranial direct current stimulation combined with treadmill walking decreases motor cortical activity in young and older adults |
| topic | non-invasive brain stimulation functional near-infrared spectroscopy locomotion cognition ageing |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnagi.2021.739998/full |
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