Change of Circulating Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Level and Reduction of Anhedonia Are Associated in Patients With Major Depressive Disorder Treated With Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

rTMS Ameliorates time-varying depression and social behaviors in stimulated space complex environment associated with VEGF signaling

Studies have indicated that medium- to long-duration spaceflight may adversely affect astronauts' emotional and social functioning. Emotion modulation can significantly impact astronauts' well-being, performance, mission safety and success. However, with the increase in flight time, the potential alterations in emotional and social performance during spaceflight and their underlying mechanisms remain to be investigated, and targeted therapeutic and preventive interventions have yet to be identified. We evaluated the changes of emotional and social functions in mice with the extension of the time in simulated space complex environment (SSCE), and simultaneously monitored changes in brain tissue of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), and inflammation-related factors. Furthermore, we assessed the regulatory role of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) in mood and socialization with the extension of the time in SSCE, as well as examining alterations of VEGF signaling in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). Our findings revealed that mice exposed to SSCE for 7 days exhibited depressive-like behaviors, with these changes persisting throughout SSCE period. In addition, 14 days of rTMS treatment significantly ameliorated SSCE-induced emotional and social dysfunction, potentially through modulation of the level of VEGF signaling in mPFC. These results indicates that emotional and social disorders increase with the extension of SSCE time, and rTMS can improve the performance, which may be related to VEGF signaling. This study offers insights into potential pattern of change over time for mental health issues in astronauts. Further analysis revealed that rTMS modulates emotional and social dysfunction during SSCE exposure, with its mechanism potentially being associated with VEGF signaling.

The effect of noninvasive brain stimulation on anhedonia in patients with schizophrenia and depression: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Anhedonia is a transdiagnostic symptom found in patients with schizophrenia and depression. Current pharmacological interventions for anhedonia are unsatisfactory in a considerable proportion of patients. There has been growing interest in applying noninvasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to patients with anhedonia. However, evidence for the efficacy of NIBS for anhedonia remain inconsistent. This study systematically identified all studies that measured anhedonia and applied NIBS in patients with schizophrenia or depression. We conducted a search using the various databases in English (PubMed, EBSCOHost (PsycInfo/PsycArticles), Web of Science) and Chinese (China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform) languages, and reviewed original research articles on NIBS published from January 1989 to July 2023. Our search had identified 15 articles for quantitative synthesis, with three concerning schizophrenia samples, 11 concerning samples with depression, and one concerning both clinical samples. We conducted a meta-analysis based on the 15 included studies, and the results suggested that NIBS could improve anhedonia symptoms in schizophrenia patients and patients with depression, with a medium-to-large effect size. Our findings are preliminary, given the limited number of included studies. Future NIBS research should measure anhedonia as a primary outcome and should recruit transdiagnostic samples.

Challenging the Pleiotropic Effects of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Geriatric Depression: A Multimodal Case Series Study

BACKGROUND

Although the antidepressant potential of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), the pleiotropic effects in geriatric depression (GD) are poorly investigated. We tested rTMS on depression, cognitive performance, growth/neurotrophic factors, cerebral blood flow (CBF) to transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD), and motor-evoked potentials (MEPs) to TMS in GD.

METHODS

In this case series study, six drug-resistant subjects (median age 68.0 years) underwent MEPs at baseline and after 3 weeks of 10 Hz rTMS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The percentage change of serum nerve growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor, brain-derived growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, and angiogenin was obtained. Assessments were performed at baseline, and at the end of rTMS; psychocognitive tests were also repeated after 1, 3, and 6 months.

RESULTS

Chronic cerebrovascular disease was evident in five patients. No adverse/undesirable effect was reported. An improvement in mood was observed after rTMS but not at follow-up. Electrophysiological data to TMS remained unchanged, except for an increase in the right median MEP amplitude. TCD and neurotrophic/growth factors did not change.

CONCLUSIONS

We were unable to detect a relevant impact of high-frequency rTMS on mood, cognition, cortical microcircuits, neurotrophic/growth factors, and CBF. Cerebrovascular disease and exposure to multiple pharmacological treatments might have contributed.