Memory loss often occurs with aging and may be the result of health disorders, emotional problems, mild cognitive impairment, or another type of dementia. Findings from a new study suggest that transcranial alternating current stimulation improves memory in older adults.

Transcranial alternating current stimulation is a non-invasive therapy that passes a mild electrical current to the brain via electrodes attached to the scalp, altering brain rhythms and improving functionality. It is currently under study as a treatment for depression, anxiety, and cognitive, speech, or motor symptoms related to various movement disorders, such as Parkinson’s disease.

The study involved 150 healthy older adults (aged 65 years and older). The researchers applied transcranial alternating current stimulation to the participants' brains at varying frequencies once a day for four days. As a placebo treatment, participants received a much shorter duration treatment. Participants took memory tests before and after their respective treatments.

Participants that received the transcranial alternating current stimulation showed improvements in both working and long-term memory as early as two days after initiating treatment. These improvements were still present at follow-up testing one month later. Participants with poorer cognitive function at the beginning of the treatment showed greater, longer-lasting memory improvements.

These findings suggest that transcranial alternating current stimulation improves memory in older adults and may be suitable as a non-invasive therapy for memory loss.

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