title: [Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation: A potential therapy for cognitive disorders?]
abstract: Considering the limited effectiveness of drugs treatments in cognitive disorders, the emergence of noninvasive techniques to modify brain function is very interesting. Among these techniques, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can modulate cortical excitability and have potential therapeutic effects on cognition and behaviour. These effects are due to physiological modifications in the stimulated cortical tissue and their associated circuits, which depend on the parameters of stimulation. The objective of this article is to specify current knowledge and efficacy of rTMS in cognitive disorders. Previous studies found very encouraging results with significant improvement of higher brain functions. Nevertheless, these few studies have limits: a few patients were enrolled, the lack of control of the mechanisms of action by brain imaging, insufficiently formalized technique and variability of cognitive tests. It is therefore necessary to perform more studies, which identify statistical significant improvement and to specify underlying mechanisms of action and the parameters of use of the rTMS to offer rTMS as a routine therapy for cognitive dysfunction.
authors.affiliation: Service de gériatrie, hôpital Charles-Foix, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 94200 Ivry-sur-Seine, France; Faculté de médecine Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, UPMC, 75013 Paris, France. Electronic address: charlotte.nouhaud@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Nouhaud
authors.affiliation: CNRS, institut de biologie Paris Seine-B2A, UMR 8256 Biological Adaptation and Ageing, Sorbonne universités, UPMC universités Paris 06, 75006 Paris, France.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Sherrard
authors.affiliation: Service de gériatrie, hôpital Charles-Foix, Assistance publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, 94200 Ivry-sur-Seine, France; Faculté de médecine Pierre-et-Marie-Curie, UPMC, 75013 Paris, France.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Belmin
mesh_terms: D000544:Alzheimer Disease / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy; D001921:Brain / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D059906:Neuroimaging; D050781:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation / Q000379:methods*
keywords: Alzheimer disease; Cognitive disorders; Maladie d’Alzheimer; Neurocognitive disorders; Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation; Stimulation magnétique transcrânienne répétée; Troubles cognitifs; Troubles neurocognitifs