Overview

Background: Central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating diseases often lead to significant cognitive impairment, presenting a critical challenge in patient management.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of individualized transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) in improving cognitive function among patients with inflammatory demyelinating disorders.

Methods: This study will assess cognitive performance through standardized neuropsychological assessments before and after individualized a one-time tES intervention, measuring changes in cognitive domains including working memory, attention, executive function, and processing speed.

Anticipated Results: We hypothesize that personalized transcranial electrical stimulation will demonstrate significant improvements in cognitive performance, potentially offering a non-invasive therapeutic approach for managing cognitive decline in central nervous system inflammatory demyelinating diseases.

Significance: This research may provide novel insights into neuromodulation strategies for cognitive rehabilitation in patients with complex neurological conditions.

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

• Patients with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorders (NMOSD), Multiple Sclerosis (MS), and other Central Nervous System Inflammatory Demyelinating Diseases that meet diagnostic criteria;
• Patients with SDMT scores <55 or subjective cognitive decline;
• Age between 18 and 65 years, gender unrestricted;
• No relapse or medication changes in the past month;
• EDSS (Expanded Disability Status Scale) score ≤6;
• Right-handed, native Chinese speakers with sufficient educational background to understand the test instructions; -Willing to participate and have signed informed consent.-

Exclusion Criteria:

• Relapse record within the past month;
• Medication adjustment within the past month or having undergone modified electroconvulsive therapy, transcranial magnetic stimulation, or other neuromodulation techniques;
• Participating in any other clinical research within 1 month prior to enrollment or currently;
• Presence of cochlear hearing aids, cardiac pacemakers, or implanted brain stimulation devices;
• Skin integrity damage at electrode placement sites, or allergy to electrode gel or adhesives;
• History of epilepsy, hydrocephalus, central nervous system tumors, brain injury, or intracranial infections;
• Pregnant or lactating women, or those planning pregnancy in the near future;
• Scoring ≥3 on item 3 (suicide item) of the HDRS-17 or concurrent severe mental illness;
• Concurrent severe or unstable organic diseases;
• Unable to cooperate with treatment, follow-up, or clinical, EEG, and imaging data collection due to poor patient compliance;
• Other situations deemed inappropriate for study participation by the researchers.