Ma, Xiaowei, Yan, Fangyuan, Liu, Zhanxu, He, Sha, Liu, Li, Liang, Jiayi, Yuan, Mengwei, Wang, Shuaixiang, Qu, Shuo, Yang, Songqi, Gao, Yan, Qiu, Huiqing, Li, Yang, Yang, Chris  ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8429-7598, Li, Yiming, Li, Ting and Wang, Yuping
2026.
Bilateral angular gyrus 810-nm transcranial near-infrared stimulation reshapes brain network: Ameliorate Alzheimer’s disease cognitive deficits.
BME Frontiers
7
, 0313.
10.34133/bmef.0313
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Abstract
Objective: To investigate the clinical efficacy and neural mechanisms of targeted 810-nm transcranial near-infrared stimulation (tNIRS) over the bilateral angular gyrus in Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Impact Statement: We provide the first clinical evidence that targeted tNIRS ameliorates AD cognitive deficits by dynamically reconfiguring large-scale brain networks, establishing a precise, mechanistic neuromodulation strategy. Introduction: While tNIRS shows potential for AD, conventional whole-brain irradiation lacks anatomical precision and yields inconsistent outcomes. Resolving these elusive network-level mechanisms requires targeted stimulation paradigms. Methods: In a randomized, sham-controlled trial, 36 biomarker-confirmed AD patients received 810-nm tNIRS targeted at the bilateral angular gyrus or sham stimulation (20 min/side daily, 15 d). Baseline and post-intervention neuropsychological assessments, resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and transcranial magnetic stimulation–electroencephalography (TMS–EEG) were utilized to decode cognitive improvements and network dynamics. Results: Targeted tNIRS obviously improved cognition, memory, language, attention, and executive functions while reducing neuropsychiatric symptoms. fMRI revealed enhanced intra-network connectivity within the default mode network (DMN) and promoted functional synergy between the DMN, dorsal attention, frontoparietal, and limbic networks. TMS–EEG demonstrated enhanced information flow and dynamic nodal reconfiguration, specifically boosting prefrontal and temporo-occipital activation. Conclusion: Bilateral angular gyrus targeted tNIRS may effectively mitigate AD cognitive impairment potentially through modulation of functional connectivity and adaptively reconfiguring higher-order cognitive networks, serving as a highly promising clinical neuromodulation therapy.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Date Type: | Publication |
| Status: | Published |
| Schools: | Schools > Engineering |
| Publisher: | AAAS |
| ISSN: | 2765-8031 |
| Date of First Compliant Deposit: | 9 September 2026 |
| Date of Acceptance: | 2 September 2026 |
| Last Modified: | 06 Oct 2026 12:45 |
| URI: | https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/189517 |
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