Effect of short period simultaneous stimulation of transcranial direct current stimulation on occupational therapy to brain-derived neurotrophic factor serum in stroke patients

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive modality stimulating brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) secretion as one of important factors of neuroplasticity in recovery after stroke. This study aimed to determine the effect of tDCS stimulation on BDNF serum in subacute ischemic stroke patients. The subjects were divided into 2 groups. Control group had occupational therapy for 5 days consecutively, while intervention group had occupational therapy and tDCS stimulation simultaneously for 5 days consecutively. Value of BDNF serum was evaluated before and after the treatment. Among twenty-two stroke patients included in this study, the mean age were 54.73±6.25 years and 55.00±10.64 years, and the mean BDNF serum were 1147.7±533.9 pg/ml and 1101.8±680.7 pg/ml in control and intervention group, respectively. There were no significant differences of BDNF serum on control group (p = 0.536) and intervention group (p = 0.594). There was no significant difference of changes BDNF serum in control group and intervention group (p = 0.749). There was no benefit application of tDCS stimulation on occupational therapy in subacute ischemic stroke patients.