Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Cerebral microvascular disease (CMD) is a disease that affects the small blood vessels in the brain and impairs their ability to properly supply nutrients to the brain. It is common in older adults and is associated with impaired mobility (i.e., slowed walking) and increased risk of dementia. To date, there is no effective drug therapy for older adults with CMD. However, there is emerging evidence that individuals with CMD may benefit from approaches such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Specifically, researchers demonstrated that tDCS can improve brain function in those with CMD. This proposed study aims to expand on previous work by pairing tDCS with advanced brain imaging techniques to better understand how exactly does tDCS positively benefit brain function as well as one's cognitive function and mobility. The specific goals of the proposed project are to examine whether: 1) tDCS will improve how different regions of the brain work and coordinate with one another; and 2) tDCS-induced changes in brain function are associated with improved cognitive function and mobility. We will achieve these two goals by carrying out a study where people with CMD are assigned by chance to 1) tDCS or 2) sham. 48 men and women aged 65 years or older with CMD will be included. Both groups will undergo 10 sessions of stimulation over Two weeks. We will assess cognitive function, mobility, and acquire brain scans at the beginning and at the end of the 10-week study. To determine longer term effects, we will repeat our cognitive and mobility assessments 1 and 2.5 months after trial completion. If successful, this project will be the first study to show that tDCS can positively impact brain function and thereby enhance motor and cognitive functions in older adults with CMD. These findings will help validate tDCS as a potential solution to functional declines caused by CMD.