Transcranial magnetic stimulation in the cortical exploration of dementia

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive technique that is accelerating our current understanding of disease mechanisms across a spectrum of neurological disorders. Importantly, TMS has allowed in vivo exploration of complex dementia networks and the cortical pathology delineating dementia subtypes, lending insight into the differentiation of underlying neurobiochemistry. The application of TMS to investigate disease stages has also allowed for a dynamic understanding of key changes across the temporal progression of disease and provided important clues for the development of potential biomarkers for clinical and monitoring purposes. Although results have been encouraging, particularly for Alzheimer's dementia, outcomes remain clinically variable and require further exploration. As such, this review will explore key TMS findings from the main cortical, cortico-subcortical, and subcortical dementia subtypes and discuss pathophysiological implications.