The Effect of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation on Gait in Healthy Young and Older Adults: A Systematic Review of the Literature

Background and objectives: Walking is an important function which requires coordinated activity of sensory-motor neural networks. Noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) is a safe neuromodulatory technique with motor function-improving effects. This study aimed to determine the effect of different types of NIBS interventions explored in randomized controlled trials on gait in healthy young and older adults.Methods: Based on the PRISMA approach, we conducted an electronic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Sco-pus, and PEDro for randomized clinical trials assessing the effect of NIBS on gait in healthy young and older adults and performed a narrative review. Results: Fourteen studies were included in this systematic review. According to the outcomes, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the motor cortex and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over the cerebellum seem to be promising for improving gait characteristics such as speed, synchronization, and variability. Furthermore, tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) improved gait speed and reduced gait parameter variability under dual-task conditions. Only one repetitive transcranial magnetic stimula-tion was available, which showed no effects. No studies were available for transcranial random noise stimulation, and transcranial pulsed current stimulation. Moreover, the intervention parameters of the included studies were heterogeneous, and studies comparing directly specific intervention protocols were missing.Conclusion: NIBS is a promising approach to improve gait in healthy young and older adults. Anodal tDCS over the motor areas and DLPFC, and tACS over the cerebellum have shown positive effects on gait.(c) 2023 IBRO. Pub-lished by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Automated summary

This study aimed to determine the effect of different types of noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) interventions on gait in healthy young and older adults. According to the findings, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) over the motor cortex and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over the cerebellum showed promising effects on gait characteristics such as speed, synchronization, and variability. However, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation had no effects, and no studies were available for transcranial random noise stimulation and transcranial pulsed current stimulation. NIBS is a promising approach to improve gait in healthy young and older adults.