Node Smith, ND

Brain stimulation with electrical current is becoming increasingly popular for treating a wide range of pathologies – depression, anxiety, developmental disorders and even Alzheimer’s disease. But a recent research study has put the effectiveness of these treatments into questions – specifically transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS).

Scientist Raises Doubt on Benefit of Neuroelectrical Therapies

From Kingston University, Dr. Giulia Galli, was part of a research team that investigated tDCS, which is a technique that involves administering a very weak (2 milliamp) electrical current to specific parts of the brain. Electrodes are attached to the head to deliver the current.

“During the past 15 years, increasing numbers of people have started to use tDCS with a great deal of enthusiasm, claiming it can improve a range of neurological functions – including enhancing memory in Alzheimer’s patients and improving dyscalculia in children with developmental disorders,” Dr Galli said. “The technique is relatively cheap and easy to use compared to other brain stimulation techniques – specially-designed caps are even available for people to try it at home – and in almost every field of mental processes research contends that it works. Yet there are now real question marks over the evidence for those claims.”

Researchers from Spain and Russia analyzed the studies

Researchers from Spain and Russia also took part in the studies, which analyzed findings from all of the existing studies in order to determine the effectiveness of the technique on long term memory. Over the past five years there has been feedback on the relatively low number of participants involved in studies of tDCS, as well as design flaws of studies and publication bias. Positive results have seemed to be published more frequently.

“The claim for many years has been that this technique is a like a miracle cure. Yet, in examining all 28 published studies looking at the impact of tCDS on long term memory, we found no statistically significant effect when all the data was taken together. We’re not saying the technique is not effective in all cases, but we need to know under what specific circumstances it does have an impact,” Dr Galli said.

Effects of tDCS were measured across a range of variables

The team evaluated the effects of tDCS across a range of variables, including length of administration, nature of the memory encoding task and age of the participants. A significant enhancement of memory performance was only found when tDCS was delivered in more difficult memory tasks. The longer the technique was applied, the more effective it was and this improvement was evident in adults of all ages.

The team’s findings

The team’s findings provided an insight for the scientific community in to how this technique can be used effectively and would help to set out the optimal conditions for the use of tCDS for neuro-rehabilitation of patients with memory decline, Dr Galli said.

“TCDS has real potential to improve mental functions relating to memory, but only works under certain circumstances. If we want it to be effective we need to get those conditions right, otherwise we’re missing opportunities to support patients. This research takes us a step closer to identifying those specifics,” Dr Galli said.

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Node Smith, ND, is a naturopathic physician in Humboldt, Saskatchewan and associate editor and continuing education director for NDNR. His mission is serving relationships that support the process of transformation, and that ultimately lead to healthier people, businesses and communities. His primary therapeutic tools include counselling, homeopathy, diet and the use of cold water combined with exercise. Node considers health to be a reflection of the relationships a person or a business has with themselves, with God and with those around them. In order to cure disease and to heal, these relationships must be specifically considered. Node has worked intimately with many groups and organizations within the naturopathic profession, and helped found the non-profit, Association for Naturopathic Revitalization (ANR), which works to promote and facilitate experiential education in vitalism.

Node Smith graduated from the National University of Natural Medicine (NUNM) in 2017, and is currently licensed as a naturopathic physician in Oregon and working towards becoming licensed in Saskatchewan, Canada as well.

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