HD-tDCS is capable to increase the focality of neuromodulation and has been recently applied to improve endurance performance in healthy subjects. Here, in a double-blind, counterbalanced, randomized order, elite cyclists (27 ± 4.3 years; BMI: 20.2 ± 1.2 kg/m2; VO2peak: 67.5 ± 1.2 mL/min/kg) with T1D (no complications) underwent either HD-tDCS (F3, F4) or control (SHAM) and completed a constant-load trial at 75% of the 2nd ventilatory threshold plus a 15-km cycling time-trial (TT) . After HD-tDCS, the total time to cover the TT was 3.8 % faster (P<.01) and associated with higher mean power output (P<.01) and a lower rate of perceived exertion/power at iso-time (F=5.7; P<.01) than the SHAM condition. Cadence, lactate, glycemia, heart rate did not differ in both conditions. These findings suggest that upregulation of the prefrontal cortex could safely enhance endurance performance in elite cyclists with T1D, without altering physiological and perceptual responses at moderate intensity. Present data open to future applications of HD-tDCS to a wider population of active T1D-subjects.

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Disclosure

R.Codella: None. L.Filipas: None. G.Gallo: None. L.Luzi: Advisory Panel; Eli Lilly and Company, Speaker's Bureau; Eli Lilly and Company, Novo Nordisk.

© 2022 by the American Diabetes Association
2022
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