White matter hyperintensities affect transcranial electrical stimulation in the aging brain
- Resource Type
- article
- Authors
- Aprinda Indahlastari; Alejandro Albizu; Emanuel M. Boutzoukas; Andrew O’Shea; Adam J. Woods
- Source
- Brain Stimulation, Vol 14, Iss 1, Pp 69-73 (2021)
- Subject
- tES
Aging
White matter hyperintensity
Finite element model
Neurosciences. Biological psychiatry. Neuropsychiatry
RC321-571
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1935-861X
Background: White matter hyperintensities (WMH) are estimated to occur in greater than 63% of older adults over the age of 60 years. WMH identified in the T2-weighted FLAIR images can be combined with T1-weighted images to enhance individualized current flow models of older adults by accounting for the presence of WMH and its effects on delivered tES current in the aging brain. Methods: Individualized head models were derived from T1-weighted images of 130 healthy older adults (mean = 71 years). Lesions segmented from FLAIR acquisition were added to individualized models. Current densities were computed in the brain and compared between models with and without lesions. Main results: Integrating WMH into the models resulted in an overall decrease (up to 7%) in median current densities in the brain outside lesion regions. Changes in current density and total lesion volume was positively correlated (R2 = 0.31, p