Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Cortical Plasticity in Patients With Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Anti-NMDA Receptor Encephalitis
• Interventions: Device: Sham Stimulation; Device: tDCS

• Registration Number: NCT01865578
• Lead Sponsor: Charite University, Berlin, Germany

Brief Summary

Patients suffering from anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis show impaired NMDA-receptor dependent neuronal transmission. Furthermore, they often have cognitive deficits of different magnitude. Impaired neuronal signaling of NMDA-receptors very likely result in decreased cortical synaptic plasticity. Thus, this represents one major reason of cognitive deficits. Synaptic plasticity can be assessed in humans via the non-invasive technique of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS).

The current study aims to investigate whether learning ability and also cortical plasticity can be changed by applying sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Therefore, we are recruiting 10 to 15 patients suffering from anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis as well as healthy controls in order to compare tDCS effects. Learning ability is assessed by motor sequence tasks, whereas cortical plasticity is measured via TMS.

tDCS is a novel non-invasive technique allowing induction of changes in cerebral excitability level and also cortical plasticity. Previous studies showed positive outcome of anodal stimulation on learning tasks. Especially motor learning seems to be an important target for tDCS treatment since it showed best results for both post-stroke patients and healthy subjects. Multiple sessions of tDCS are inducing long-term effects and improved learning function, which were present three months after stimulation.

In this study we hope to reveals new insights into the pathomechanisms of impaired cognitive and learning abilities in patients having anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis. Moreover, we evaluate whether tDCS is an effective treatment for patients with cognitive and learning deficits.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2012-04
• Study First Submitted: 2013-05-21
• Study First Submitted QC: 2013-05-28
• Study First Posted: 2013-05-31
• Primary Completion: 2015-05
• Status Verified: 2016-03
• Last Update Submitted: 2016-03-16
• Last Update Posted: 2016-03-17

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 40

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients suffering from anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis
• healthy (control) subjects

Exclusion Criteria

• Any metal inside the body/head, e.g. clips, pace maker, medical pumps, cochlear implant etc.
• Traumatic brain injury
• Stroke
• Cerebral tumor
• Pregnancy
• untreated severe internal or psychiatric diseases

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
sham stimulation	Sham Stimulation	sham stimulation
tDCS	tDCS	Transcranial direct current stimulation

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
neurophysiological measurements using TMS	1 week	TMS protocoll (a paired associative stimulation) is applied after tDCS or sham stimulation

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
performance in a motor task	1 week	performance in a motor task is compared after a tDCS or sham stimulation

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Charite University Medicine; 🇩🇪 Berlin, Germany