Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Global Cognitive Functioning and Ability in Daily Life Activities in Post-stroke Cognitive Impairment: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

The aim of the study is to determine the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation on global cognition and ability in daily life activities of patients with poststroke cognitive impairment.Nine electronic databases were searched from their respective inceptions through January 2022. We included the randomized controlled trials that used transcranial direct current stimulation for poststroke cognitive impairment and included at least one global cognitive function or ability in daily life activities outcome indicators. Two reviewers appraised the risks of bias through the Cochrane Collaboration's tool and performed the meta-analysis. We followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses 2020 guidelines.Twenty-two studies (1198 participants) were included. Most studies had no significant bias in the quality of the methodology. Meta-analyses found that compared with the control group, transcranial direct current stimulation increased Montreal cognitive assessment, Mini-mental state examination, Loewenstein occupational therapy cognitive assessment, total effective rate of cognition, modified Barthel Index, and decreased P300 latency (all P < 0.05). These results showed transcranial direct current stimulation can improve cognitive function and ability in daily life activities in poststroke cognitive impairment.The transcranial direct current stimulation may have a significant rehabilitation effect on global cognitive functioning and ability in daily life activities of patients with poststroke cognitive impairment.