tDCS for Neurological Disability Among Subacute Stroke Survivors to Improve Multiple Domains in Quality of Life

Background: tDCS is an emerging noninvasive brain stimulation that triggers neuroplastic changes in the brain. To enhance motor and executive function, tDCS modifies neuronal activity. Targeted effects of tDCS for physical and cognitive function might help in improving domains related to QoL among stroke survivors. Therefore, the primary goal of the current proposal is to fill the gaps in the literature by studying the effectiveness of patient-tailored tDCS on lifestyle parameters, and physical, behavior, and cognitive functions among stroke survivors, and understanding the mediated factors of domains related to QoL improvements.

Type of study: Multiple Randomized Controlled trials (RCTs) Methods: Multiple RCTs will be conducted for subacute stroke survivors (\>7 days to 3 months post stroke) aged 40-75 years with National Institutes of Health stroke scale score of \>10 and Mini-Mental State Examination Score between18-23 on admission. Anticipated 64 Participants will take part in a prospective, randomized, participant- and assessor-blinded, sham-controlled trial after voluntary consent. The participants will be randomly assigned at a ratio of 1:1 to receive either: 16 patient-tailored sessions of anodal tDCS or sham tDCS in addition to conventional rehabilitation. Battery driven tDCS will be applied at 2 mA intensity to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and primary motor cortex for 20 minutes. The primary endpoints of study will be differences in 36-Item Short Form Survey (SF-36) scores post intervention at 4 weeks. The secondary outcomes will include Stroke Specific Quality of Life Scale, Montreal cognitive assessment, Beck Anxiety Inventory, Fugl-Meyer Assessment and Barthel Index.

Results: SPSS software version 22 will be used to analyze the normal distribution of data and based on data normality, within group and between group actual differences will be calculated for all outcome measures to examine the main effects of the intervention. The level of significance will be set at 0.05

Ischemic stroke (IS) is a major health concern worldwide. There are approximately 29 stroke cases per 100,000 of population residing in Saudi Arabia annually. Stroke is the second leading cause of mortality and a major contributor to adult disability in Saudi Arabia. Two-thirds of stroke patients continue to have motor impairments that have an impact on daily activities and quality of life. Survivors may continue to require specialised therapy assistance for months or even years following a stroke. Lack of inpatient and community rehabilitation, long-term care, and community support services has a substantial influence on patients with non-acute phase of stroke, thus urgent and acute care is not the only part of care that needs to improve. To offer better results for patients with stroke, rehabilitation programmes, primary care teams, social care professionals, and larger community services must all contribute their time and effort. These requirements seek to delve into the broader and more immediate facets of stroke treatment. The recovery of motor function following IS depends on the initiation of rehabilitative training at an early stage.

Inter-hemispheric balance is disrupted after stroke, interfering with the recovery process. Motor functions depend on the modulation of inter-hemispheric inhibition between cortical areas via transcallosal projections and descending projections. Unilateral hemispheric damage reduces activity in the affected hemisphere while activity in the unaffected hemisphere increases, becoming more dominant. Hence recovery may relate to rebalancing of inter-hemispheric inhibition. The safe, portable and noninvasive brain stimulation method known as tDCS can modify the excitability of certain brain regions by changing the polarity of the neuronal membrane potentials using sponge electrodes. Transcranial brain stimulation (TBS), when used in conjunction with neurorehabilitation in the early subacute phase after IS (within the first 4 weeks after stroke onset), may promote quicker and better recovery by enhancing underlying neuroplastic processes, which may be more susceptible at this time. tDCS alters neuronal activity and induces neuroplastic changes in the brain to improve motor and executive performance. Multiple sessions of tDCS may be utilized to enhance rehabilitative outcomes and lessen symptom load across a variety of Stroke. The targeted effects of tDCS on physical and functional aspects may contribute to an improvement in QoL-related areas. In Saudi Arabia, there is a significant gap between evidence-based stroke medication and care. Stroke has been deemed a high priority illness by the Ministry of Health that requires better management Therefore, the main objective of the current proposal is to close the gaps in the literature by researching the effects of tailored tDCS on lifestyle variables, as well as on physical, behavioral, and cognitive functions in stroke survivors, and by figuring out the factors that mediate the effects of various domains on QoL.

Eligibility Criteria:
Inclusion Criteria:

* Males and Females between the age group of 40 to 75 years
* Acute first-ever unilateral infarction which is confirmed by MRI.
* Subacute stroke (Ischemic type) (\>7 days to 3 months post stroke)
* Modified Ashworth scale \< 2 in both upper and lower extremity
* Mini-Mental State Examination Score between18-23 on admission
* National Institutes of Health stroke scale score of \>10 on admission
* Clear consciousness able to sign the informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

* Sensorimotor cortical infarcts
* Epilepsy
* Diagnosed as hemorrhagic stroke
* Any neurological diseases other than stroke
* Any musculoskeletal injury affecting motor functions
* Any neuropsychiatric diseases
* Any medically unstable condition due to Cardiovascular or respiratory illness.
* Severe medical diseases or other systemic illness like malignancy, end stage kidney, heart or liver failure
* Pregnancy, presence of metallic implants, pacemaker
* Hypersensitive patients, Non-Cooperative or unwilling Individuals