Alzheimer and TPS: New data suggest positive effects of non-invasive brain stimulation
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) continues to pose one of the greatest challenges in medicine, with progressive cognitive decline and limited treatment options. A recently published study by Cont et al., under the lead of Prof. Lars Wojtecki, explores the potential of Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) as an add-on treatment for AD. The research was carried out by the team at the Department of Neurology and Neurorehabilitation at the Hospital zum Heiligen Geist in Kempen, Germany, together with the Institute of Clinical Neuroscience and Medical Psychology at Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf. By evaluating the feasibility, safety, and cognitive effects of TPS over a full year, this work provides valuable long-term data on its use in patients with Alzheimer’s disease.
What is Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS)?
TPS is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that uses short, repetitive shockwaves to stimulate specific brain regions. Unlike traditional therapies, TPS can target multiple cortical areas with precision. The investigated protocol applied pulses to the frontal, parietal, temporal lobes, and the praecuneus—areas essential for memory, language, and orientation.
Study design and protocol
The research followed ten patients with mild to moderate Alzheimer’s over twelve months. The treatment began with six sessions over two weeks, followed by monthly booster sessions. Cognitive performance was evaluated using standardised tests (ADAS, MMSE, MoCA), alongside assessments of depressive symptoms.
Notably, the team also proposed an enhanced multifocal protocol—termed F-TOP²—designed to broaden therapeutic effects by adding stimulation to occipital regions and hippocampus.
Key findings
Safety and Tolerability: Adverse events were rare (<1% of sessions), mainly consisting of mild sensations like transient local pain or dizziness.
Cognitive Outcomes: Patients demonstrated significant improvement in memory and speech after the initial stimulation cycle, with stabilised cognitive scores over one year. This contrasts with the expected annual decline in untreated AD.
Mood Improvement: Depressive symptoms also decreased, suggesting benefits beyond cognition, potentially enhancing overall quality of life.
Domain-Specific Effects: Improvements were most pronounced in memory and speech, aligning with the targeted stimulation regions. Orientation and visuo-construction showed less consistent progress.
The multifocal approach
One of the study’s most exciting contributions is the proposal of a multifocal stimulation strategy (F-TOP²), incorporating additional regions to address a wider spectrum of cognitive deficits. This could pave the way for more personalised TPS protocols tailored to individual symptom profiles.
Conclusion
This long-term study underscores TPS as a safe and potentially effective add-on therapy in the observed population of patients with Alzheimer’s disease, capable of stabilising cognitive decline. The proposed multifocal approach further highlights the evolving landscape of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) in neurodegenerative diseases.
References
Cont-Richter, C., Stute, N., Galli, A., Schulte, C., & Wojtecki, L. (2025). Transcranial Pulse Stimulation in Alzheimer’s: Long-Term Feasibility and a Multifocal Treatment Approach. Brain Sciences, 15(8), 830. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci15080830
