{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,6,24]],"date-time":"2026-06-24T04:46:29Z","timestamp":1782276389413,"version":"3.54.5"},"reference-count":31,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]],"date-time":"2025-10-17T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1760659200000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003996","name":"Kunming Medical University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["2023-JY-Y-078"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["2023-JY-Y-078"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003996","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003996","name":"Kunming Medical University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["202305aF150032"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["202305aF150032"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003996","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]},{"DOI":"10.13039\/501100003996","name":"Kunming Medical University","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","award":["zx2019-04-02"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["zx2019-04-02"]}],"id":[{"id":"10.13039\/501100003996","id-type":"DOI","asserted-by":"publisher"}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Rehabil. Sci."],"abstract":"<jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Background<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with dual-task training (DTT) has shown potential in promoting neurorehabilitation. However, the transcriptomic mechanisms underlying the synergistic effects of dual-target tDCS remain unexplored. This study aims to evaluate the effects of tDCS\u2009+\u2009DTT on cognitive and motor functions and preliminarily explore its molecular basis through transcriptomic analysis.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Methods<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Fifty two chronic stroke patients were randomized to receive dual-target tDCS (anodal electrodes over affected primary motor cortex M1 and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex DLPFC) combined with DTT (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200926) or sham stimulation with DTT (\n                      <jats:italic>n<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u200926). Behavioral assessments, including the Visual Cognitive Assessment Test (VCAT), Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD), Fugl-Meyer Lower Limb Assessment (FMA-L), Timed Up and Go Test (TUG), and Modified Barthel Index (MBI), were conducted before and after the intervention. Peripheral blood transcriptomic analysis was performed on a subset of patients from the tDCS\u2009+\u2009DTT group to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and enriched pathways.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Results<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>\n                      Significant interactions were observed for VCAT (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001), MBI (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009=\u20090.033), HAMD (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001), FM-L (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001), TUG-CMDT time (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001), and TUG-CMDT accuracy rate (\n                      <jats:italic>p<\/jats:italic>\n                      \u2009&amp;lt;\u20090.001). Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1,319 DEGs post-treatment, predominantly downregulating inflammation\/apoptosis-related genes (1,155) and upregulating neuroplasticity-associated genes (164). KEGG pathway analysis highlighted suppressed NF-\u03baB signaling and apoptosis pathways, alongside enhanced synaptic plasticity mechanisms. Key regulatory genes, such as PPP1R15A, BCL3, GADD45B, and NFKBIA, were identified as potential mediators of tDCS-induced neuroprotection.\n                    <\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>\n                  <jats:sec>\n                    <jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title>\n                    <jats:p>Dual-target tDCS combined with DTT promotes functional recovery in stroke patients through transcriptomic reprogramming of inflammatory and neuroplastic pathways, offering a novel strategy for multi-modal neurorehabilitation.<\/jats:p>\n                  <\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fresc.2025.1589588","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,10,17]],"date-time":"2025-10-17T05:31:33Z","timestamp":1760679093000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":5,"title":["Dual-target tDCS and dual-task training modulate neuroinflammation and neuroplasticity: transcriptomic and behavioral evidence in stroke rehabilitation"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"6","author":[{"given":"Yutong","family":"Fu","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University","place":["Kunming, China"]},{"name":"Center for Healthy Ageing and Wellness (H-CARE), Faculty of Health Sciences, Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia","place":["Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Qianxi","family":"Yan","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University","place":["Kunming, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Anjuan","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University","place":["Kunming, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Hongmei","family":"Zhang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University","place":["Kunming, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Wenli","family":"Wang","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University","place":["Kunming, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Liqing","family":"Yao","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Kunming Medical University","place":["Kunming, China"]}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Devinder Kaur Ajit","family":"Singh","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Center for Healthy Ageing and Wellness (H-CARE), 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