Efficacy and Safety of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Treating Late-Life Depression: A Scoping Review.

Background/

Objectives

Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a non-invasive and well-tolerated treatment, offering an effective alternative for elderly patients with depression, especially when side effects or comorbidities limit medication.

Methods

This scoping review analyzes 16 studies published over the past seven years, to evaluate the efficacy, safety, and clinical applications of TMS in older adults with depression.

Results

The review examines various TMS modalities, including repetitive TMS (rTMS), deep TMS, and theta burst stimulation (TBS), with most protocols targeting the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). Adverse effects were rare, mild, and transient, supporting the treatment's safety profile. Pharmacological co-treatment was common but not essential for clinical improvement, highlighting TMS's potential as a standalone therapy. A subset of studies used neuroplasticity (SICI, ICF, CSP) or neuroimaging measures (MRI and MRI-based neuronavigation), revealing that age-related cortical inhibition may limit plasticity rather than depression itself.

Conclusions

Overall, TMS demonstrates promising effectiveness and tolerability in managing late-life depression. Across studies, remission rates varied from 20% to 63%, with higher efficacy generally observed in bilateral stimulation or high-frequency protocols. Standardization of protocols and further research into individualized targeting and long-term outcomes are warranted to support broader clinical adoption.