Involving 375 older adults, the study compared the effects of the CR and tDCS intervention against a control group, with participants receiving therapy five days a week for eight weeks, followed by booster sessions every six months.

Cognitive remediation techniques included therapeutic activities such as puzzles aimed at enhancing cognitive function, while tDCS is a non-invasive brain stimulation method.

Results indicated that participants receiving the combination therapy experienced a significant slowing of cognitive decline, equivalent to delaying it by about four years compared to those in the control group.

Dr. Tarek Rajji, the lead author, noted that the therapy's effectiveness was evident even after seven years of monitoring, suggesting it helps vulnerable populations maintain their independence longer.

The combination treatment was particularly effective in improving executive function and verbal memory, especially among patients with rMDD compared to those with MCI.

The findings are particularly significant given the limited treatment options available for older adults facing both depression and dementia, indicating a shift in psychiatric treatment approaches.

Notably, the combined treatment exhibited a more favorable side-effect profile compared to traditional pharmacological treatments, suggesting potential for broader clinical application.

This research represents a significant advancement in dementia care in Canada, aiming to enhance the quality of life for individuals and caregivers affected by dementia.

A groundbreaking study led by the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) has revealed that a combination therapy can effectively slow cognitive decline in older adults at risk for dementia.

The study, published in JAMA Psychiatry, focuses on preventing cognitive decline in older adults with major depressive disorder in remission (rMDD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and highlights the potential of combining cognitive remediation (CR) with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

Dr. Benoit Mulsant, a senior author of the study, emphasized the focus on the prefrontal cortex, a brain area crucial for executive functioning, as a key target for treatment.

Older adults with MDD or MCI are at high risk for cognitive decline and dementia, with evidence suggesting that earlier-life depression increases this risk, even if remission occurs later.