Retrospective Study
Copyright ©The Author(s) 2024. Published by Baishideng Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
World J Clin Cases. Apr 6, 2024; 12(10): 1742-1749
Published online Apr 6, 2024. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v12.i10.1742
Impact of transcranial electrical stimulation on serum neurotrophic factors and language function in patients with speech disorders
Li Sun, Kai Xiao, Xiao-Yan Shen, Shu Wang
Li Sun, Kai Xiao, Xiao-Yan Shen, Shu Wang, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, General Hospital of the Yangtze River Shipping, Wuhan 430010, Hubei Province, China
Co-first authors: Li Sun and Kai Xiao.
Author contributions: Sun L and Wang S conceptualized and designed the article; Sun L conducted the feasibility analysis; Implementation of the research by Sun L, Xiao K, and Shen XY, as well as the statistical analysis; Data collection was carried out by Sun L and Xiao K; Sun L was responsible for paper writing and revision; Wang S oversaw quality control, proofreading, and overall responsibility, supervision, and management of the article.
Supported by the Wuhan Municipal Health and Wellness Research Fund, No. WX19D58 and No. WX21D03.
Institutional review board statement: This study was approved by the Medical Ethics Committee of Yangtze River Shipping General Hospital, No. HCHLL-19-0111.
Informed consent statement: Patients were not required to give informed consent to the study because the analysis used anonymous clinical data that were obtained after each patient agreed to treatment by written consent.
Conflict-of-interest statement: All the authors report no relevant conflicts of interest for this article.
Data sharing statement: The dataset for this study is available from the corresponding author, Email: wang31228@163.com.
Open-Access: This article is an open-access article that was selected by an in-house editor and fully peer-reviewed by external reviewers. It is distributed in accordance with the Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial (CC BY-NC 4.0) license, which permits others to distribute, remix, adapt, build upon this work non-commercially, and license their derivative works on different terms, provided the original work is properly cited and the use is non-commercial. See: https://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by-nc/4.0/
Corresponding author: Shu Wang, MD, Attending Doctor, Staff Physician, Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, General Hospital of the Yangtze River Shipping, No. 5 Huiji Road, Jiangan District, Wuhan 430010, Hubei Province, China. wang31228@163.com
Received: January 19, 2024
Peer-review started: January 19, 2024
First decision: February 5, 2024
Revised: February 26, 2024
Accepted: March 12, 2024
Article in press: March 12, 2024
Published online: April 6, 2024
ARTICLE HIGHLIGHTS
Research background

Speech disorders significantly affect individuals' communication abilities and quality of life. Traditional treatments often show variable outcomes and patient compliance issues. The exploration of innovative, non-invasive therapies like transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) is crucial for advancing treatment effectiveness in this field.

Research motivation

This study is motivated by the need to find more effective, patient-friendly treatment options for speech disorders. The potential of TES as a novel intervention, capable of enhancing neurotrophic factors and improving language functions, drives this research.

Research objectives

The primary objective is to assess the impact of TES, alongside conventional speech and psychological therapies, on serum neurofactor levels and language functions in individuals with speech disorders.

Research methods

A controlled study was conducted with 81 patients, divided into a control group receiving standard therapies and an observation group receiving additional TES. The study evaluated serum levels of various neurofactors and conducted comprehensive assessments of language and motor functions over a 3-wk period.

Research results

The observation group demonstrated significantly higher levels of serum neurofactors (ciliary neurotrophic factor, glial cell-derived neurotrophic factor, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, nerve growth factor) and improved scores in language functions (writing, reading comprehension, retelling, fluency) and development quotient, compared to the control group.

Research conclusions

TES, in combination with standard therapies, significantly improves neurofactor levels and language functions in patients with speech disorders. This suggests TES as an effective adjunct therapy in the treatment of speech impairments.

Research perspectives

The promising results from this study advocate for further research into TES as a treatment modality for speech disorders. Future studies could explore long-term effects, optimize stimulation protocols, and investigate the underlying mechanisms of TES in neurological rehabilitation. This line of research has the potential to significantly impact clinical practices and patient outcomes in speech therapy.