Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Language Recovery After Stroke: a Pilot Study
试验速览
- 阶段
- 不适用
- 状态
- 招募中
- 入组人数
- 36
- 试验地点
- 2
- 主要终点
- Percentage of participants completing the study intervention and outcome measures
研究概览
简要总结
Aphasia is an acquired language disorder. Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia, which affects 30% of stroke survivors. Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) can help people with aphasia but it may not be provided at the required intensity. Access to therapy is often limited after the first few months following stroke. People with aphasia can improve with therapy many years after stroke but these benefits have not been found to translate to day to day conversation.
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) is a non-invasive technique which involves stimulating a branch of the vagus nerve through the skin of the ear, using a small earpiece. This technique is safe and has been approved for use in headache. There is promising evidence that tVNS can improve motor rehabilitation in chronic stroke. This technique may be helpful in aiding language recovery in individuals with chronic aphasia.
The current pilot study will primarily assess the feasibility, safety and tolerability of self-directed tVNS paired with computer-based SLT, in individuals with chronic stroke-related aphasia. Secondly, the study aims to explore the effect of the intervention on word-finding ability and to explore potential mechanisms of action. Participants will be randomly allocated to an active or sham tVNS group. Participants will be asked to use the stimulation device at home for 6 weeks, whilst completing computer-based SLT. To date, there are no published studies exploring the use of tVNS in aphasia. An indication of study feasibility may support the development of a larger RCT to explore treatment efficacy.
详细描述
Aphasia is an acquired communication disorder, characterised by difficulties with the production and/or understanding of language. Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia which affects approximately 30% of stroke survivors. Many individuals are left with chronic deficits. Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) is the gold-standard treatment for aphasia but access to therapy is limited beyond the first few months of recovery. Individuals with chronic aphasia (>6 months) can benefit from SLT input. Computer-based SLT can lead to improvements in word-finding for people with aphasia, many years after stroke (Palmer et al., 2019). Improvements have not been found to translate to day-to-day conversation.
Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) paired with upper limb rehabilitation has proved beneficial in chronic stroke. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) is a non-invasive technique which involves stimulating a branch of the vagus nerve through the skin of the ear, using a small earpiece. This technique is safe and has been approved for use in headache. The use of tVNS in chronic stroke is currently being explored, with promising findings when paired with upper limb rehabilitation exercises. To date, there are no published studies exploring the use of tVNS in chronic aphasia. Pairing tVNS with an SLT intervention may have the potential to promote language recovery in chronic stroke. An indication of study feasibility may support the development of a larger RCT to explore treatment efficacy.
This is a single centre, single blind, pilot randomised controlled trial. The primary aim is to explore the safety, tolerability and feasibility of self-directed computer-based SLT combined with tVNS, in individuals with chronic-stroke related aphasia. Secondary aims include exploring any indication of effect of the intervention on word-finding ability (trained words, generalisability to untrained words and conversation). Additionally, the study aims to explore potential mechanisms of action.
Participants will be asked to use the stimulation device alongside computer-based SLT, at home for 6 weeks. SLT training will include naming pictures of 30 personally relevant words, selected by the participant prior to the commencement of the intervention and uploaded onto the software. The SLT software (Step by Step) uses a self-guided errorless learning approach and will be completed on an ipad. The researcher will check-in with the participant each week to monitor any concerns, side effects and monitor engagement with the programme.
Potential participants will be recruited from Sheffield, using the NHS PHIND database. Accessible study invitations will be sent to potential participants. The Consent Support Tool will be used to ascertain the most appropriate way to provide study information. All participants will have capacity to consent to the study. Participants will be randomly allocated (SealedEnvelope Ltd) to an active or sham tVNS group, stratified according to language score. Participants will be blinded to group allocation.
研究设计
- 研究类型
- Interventional
- 分配方式
- Randomized
- 干预模型
- Parallel
- 主要目的
- Other
- 盲法
- Single (Participant)
入排标准
- 年龄范围
- 18 Years 至 —（Adult, Older Adult）
- 性别
- All
- 接受健康志愿者
- 否
入选标准
- •Supratentorial stroke at least 6 months prior to recruitment
- •Aphasia (with word finding difficulties)
- •Ability to engage in the programme (support can be provided for cognitive or receptive difficulties)
- •Sufficient vision to engage in the computer-based SLT programme
排除标准
- •Implanted devices (e.g. pacemaker) or implanted stimulation devices
- •Currently receiving a programme of Speech and Language Therapy (SLT)
- •Damage to the vagus nerve
- •Symptomatic bradycardia/ 2nd or 3rd heart block
- •Pregnancy
- •Unable to speak English
- •Severe deafness (despite using hear aids)
结局指标
主要结局
Percentage of participants completing the study intervention and outcome measures
时间窗: 24 months
\>80% of recruited participants completing the intervention and primary outcome measures at 6 weeks
Safety: The number of adverse events reported that are associated with tVNS
时间窗: 6 weeks
The safety of using tVNS in the aphasia population will be measured through the recording of adverse events. The number of Serious Adverse Events (SAE's) and Unexpected Adverse Events (UAE's) during the intervention will be reported.
Tolerability: The number and intensity of symptoms reported
时间窗: 6 weeks
The reporting of symptoms associated with tVNS will be recorded and the severity of each symptom on a 1-5 scale (1= mild; 5 = severe).
次要结局
- The Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT): Naming Objects(Week 0; Week 6; Week 12)
- Picture Naming (personally relevant)(Week 0; Week 6; Week 12)
- Conversation: The number of trained words used in conversation(Week 0; Week 6; Week 12)
- Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) (ng/ml)(Week 0; Week 6)
- Inflammatory markers (pg/ml)(Week 0; Week 6)
- Heart Rate Variability (HRV)(Week 0; Week 6)
- Pupillary Reactivity(Week 0; Week 6)