title: Effects of "isolated" transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation on memory and affective behavior in patients with probable Alzheimer's disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In previous studies, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS), tactile stimulation, and a combination of the two resulted in cognitive and affective improvements in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). As in those studies the therapist was present during the treatment of the experimental and control group (sham stimulation), a positive effect of the combination of TENS with interpersonal communication could not be excluded. Therefore, the effects of "isolated" TENS, i.e., in the absence of the therapist, on memory and affective disturbances in AD patients were examined.
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen subjects (78-92 years old) met the NINCDS-ADRDA criteria for the clinical diagnosis of probable AD. To evaluate treatment effects, the experimental group (9) and the control group (9) underwent a number of neuropsychological tests and two observation scales.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Treatment effects were observed for nonverbal short-term (Visual Memory) and long-term (Face Recognition) memory, word fluency (Verbal Fluency), and need of help, whereas patients' affective behavior did not improve.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results of the present study show that isolated TENS has a positive effect on patients' cognitive and independent functioning; however, isolated TENS appeared not to have a therapeutic effect on patients' affective behavior.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Psychology, Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: E J
authors.initials: EJ
authors.lastname: Scherder
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bouma
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Steen
mesh_terms: D000339:Affect / Q000502:physiology*; D000368:Aged; D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000523:psychology* / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales; D004561:Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation