The short answer is no! Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) therapy has been systematically studied for its impact on cognition and memory. Multiple clinical trials and studies have proven that TMS therapy does not impact cognition, concentration, or memory negatively.
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) also sometimes known as Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is generally considered to be a non-invasive therapy that stimulates the neurotransmitters with the use of magnetic coils that generate electromagnetic pulses. However, there is a small risk of seizure from TMS, particularly in patients with a history of head injury.
When compared to Electroconvulsive Therapy (ECT), which is commonly used to treat people with major depressive disorder and other mental illnesses, TMS is less invasive and has little to no adverse effects on memory. Whereas, in ECT short-term confusion, problems with concentration and short-term memory loss are common. Some ECT patients have also reported long-term issues with memory as a side effect of the therapy, which may remain indefinitely in some cases. The main reason – ECT causes therapeutic seizures to correct mental disruptions that despite our best effects can lead to serious side effects, including irreversible brain cell damage and negative impacts on cognition.
In fact, clinical trial and further studies are establishing a link between the effectiveness of TMS as a memory aid and its positive effects on brain health. TMS therapy has shown to help regulate brain signals, mood, and learning, which can be one of the reasons why it is so effective against several mental disorders including anxiety, OCD, and autism.
TMS therapy is not a first-line treatment for depression and anxiety. Health providers usually opt for traditional depression treatments, including anti-depressant therapy and talk therapy. The patients who do not respond to both of these treatments are recommended the TMS therapy. So, if you or anyone you know is suffering from depression, keep in mind that TMS is usually the health provider’s last option if other treatments fail to control depression symptoms.
Although, TMS is an FDA approved treatment, however, more research is required to come to a more definite conclusion about TMS and its long-term effects because not only has TMS shown the clear signs of no memory loss, it has also been observed that TMS can improve memory. However, it is not yet known for how long the memory improvement lasts after brain stimulation, and how many sessions does it require for showing long-lasting results.
With time and more research, we will be able to find out whether or not TMS can be a prospect treatment for Alzheimer’s patients, and whether it can offer long-lasting benefits to patients that suffering from diseases that are associated with memory loss.
It is a long time to go before we can conclude the possibilities of TMS for improving memory, but by the time we have enough evidence to support memory improvement, we can safely say that TMS does not cause memory loss.
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