Imagine you have a car, and you want to give it a power boost. You can either use a regular engine or add an electric motor to enhance its performance. In a similar way, scientists have been exploring how to boost working memory in older adults using a technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). This technique involves applying electrical stimulation to specific areas of the brain while individuals engage in working memory training (WMT). A recent study aimed to assess the effects of combining tDCS with WMT in older adults. The results showed that the group receiving tDCS + WMT experienced significant improvements in reasoning and short-term memory compared to the other groups. These findings suggest that tDCS may have the potential to amplify the effects of working memory training in older adults, particularly in terms of memory and cognitive abilities. While more research is needed to further understand the underlying mechanisms and factors influencing these effects, this study provides promising insights into the field of cognitive training for older adults. Curious to learn more? Check out the full article!

BackgroundTranscranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) has been employed to boost working memory training (WMT) effects. Nevertheless, there is limited evidence on the efficacy of this combination in older adults. The present study is aimed to assess the delayed transfer effects of tDCS coupled with WMT in older adults in a 15-day follow-up. We explored if general cognitive ability, age, and educational level predicted the effects.MethodsIn this single-center, double-blind randomized sham-controlled experiment, 54 older adults were randomized into three groups: anodal-tDCS (atDCS)+WMT, sham-tDCS (stDCS)+WMT, and double-sham. Five sessions of tDCS (2 mA) were applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Far transfer was measured by Raven’s Advanced Progressive Matrices (RAPM), while the near transfer effects were assessed through Digit Span. A frequentist linear mixed model (LMM) was complemented by a Bayesian approach in data analysis.ResultsWorking memory training improved dual n-back performance in both groups submitted to this intervention but only the group that received atDCS+WMT displayed a significant improvement from pretest to follow-up in transfer measures of reasoning (RAPM) and short-term memory (forward Digit Span). Near transfer improvements predicted gains in far transfer, demonstrating that the far transfer is due to an improvement in the trained construct of working memory. Age, formal education, and vocabulary score seem to predict the gains in reasoning. However, Bayesian results do not provide substantial evidence to support this claim.ConclusionThis study will help to consolidate the incipient but auspicious field of cognitive training coupled with tDCS in healthy older adults. Our findings demonstrated that atDCS may potentialize WMT by promoting transfer effects in short-term memory and reasoning in older adults, which are observed especially at follow-up.

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