Aldo Soldini, MD, MSc

The aim of my research is to identify neuroanatomical, neurodevelopmental, and neurophysiological variables of response to Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation (NIBS) as a non-pharmacological treatment option for patients with major depressive disorderd (MDD). Markers such as cortical thickness and surface area are important variables to take into consideration when applying Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) and Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS).

The data from clinical studies at the LMU Klinikum will be assessed for these markers. Some studies include a multicenter clinical trial on tDCS that has recently been finalized (Padberg Et al. 2016), And two upcoming studies. The first is focused on healthy subjects using tDCS and multivoxel spectroscopy, and the second is another multicenter clinical trial on interleaved TMS/fMRI as a treatment option for patients with MDD.

Various endpoints will be measured. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) will be used to assess: Electrical field distributions, volumetric and anatomical data, and changes in brain metabolites. Genetic data will also be employed to calculate polygenic risk scores.

These results will advance the current understanding of markers of response to NIBS as a therapeutic option in the field of psychiatry and help personalize protocols for a more effective outcome.