Cognitive Outcomes of Brain Stimulation As a Later-in-Life Treatment
- Conditions
- DementiaMild Cognitive ImpairmentAmnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment - aMCI
- Interventions
- Device: NeuroElectric StarStimDevice: Sham Treatment
- Registration Number
- NCT05564715
- Lead Sponsor
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
- Brief Summary
This is a pilot study being done to attempt to improve episodic memory problems in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. The pre-supplemental motor area (preSMA) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) have been shown to play a role in episodic memory and language retrieval. Prior studies have suggested that neurostimulation targeting this region can improve episodic memory and word recall. The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) to the preSMA/dACC region and its influence on word retrieval and other cognitive functions in patients with MCI or dementia. Entraining the preSMA/dACC circuit with 10 sessions of HD-tDCS will allow us to study whether neurostimulation may be an effective treatment.
- Detailed Description
The research objective of this study is to examine the efficacy of HD-tDCS to the preSMa/DaCC region and its influence on word retrieval and other cognitive functions in patients with MCI or dementia after 10 sessions of HD-tDCS. There will be two treatment arms: active HD-tDCS (1 mA) and a sham group. For Phase 1, participants will receive 10 sessions of active stimulation (1 mA anodal HD-tDCS targeting preSMA/dACC for 20 min) or sham across 2 weeks. Word retrieval and other cognitive tasks will be completed at baseline, immediate follow-up after session 10, and a 2-month follow-up. For Phase 2, participants randomized into the sham group will have the opportunity to return after 2 months and receive the active treatment while being unblinded to their treatment condition. Following 10 active treatment sessions, word retrieval and other cognitive tasks will again be completed immediately following the last HD-tDCS session and then a 2-month follow-up.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 9999
Active diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, Female and male subjects, All races/ethnicities, Age 55 years and older, Fluent in English,
Lifetime history of major neurologic syndromes (e.g., epilepsy, brain tumor, etc), Substance use disorder within the past year, Has metal fragments in skull/head, Current vision or hearing impairment that interferes with testing, Current medication use known to alter HD-tDCS reactivity
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- CROSSOVER
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Phase 1: Active Treatment NeuroElectric StarStim Participants will receive 10 sessions of active stimulation (1 mA anodal HD-tDCS targeting preSMA/dACC for 20 min) across 2 weeks. Word retrieval and other cognitive tasks will be completed at baseline, immediate follow-up after session 10, and a 2-month follow-up Phase 1: Sham Treatment Sham Treatment Participants will receive 10 sessions of sham stimulation across 2 weeks. Word retrieval and other cognitive tasks will be completed at baseline, immediate follow-up after session 10, and a 2-month follow-up Phase 2: Active Treatment NeuroElectric StarStim For Phase 2, participants randomized into the sham group will have the opportunity to return after 2 months from completing Phase 1. They will receive the active treatment while being unblinded to their treatment condition. Following 10 active treatment sessions, word retrieval and other cognitive tasks will again be completed immediately following the last HD-tDCS session and then a 2-month follow-up.
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Changes in Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test Score Pre-treatment, post-treatment (an average of 2 weeks), and 8 weeks post-treatment The RAVLT is a verbal episodic memory test that is sensitive to mesial and lateral verbal episodic memory circuit dysfunction. The primary outcome measure for this task is the total number of items immediately recalled during the learning trials and after the 20 minute delayed recall trial. Changes in scores from baseline to testing immediately following the completion of the condition will be examined as well as from baseline to 8 months post-treatment.
RAVLT : Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, 0-15 score for each trial, higher scores reflect better performance
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Changes in Boston Naming Test Short Form Pre-treatment, post-treatment (an average of 2 weeks), and 8 weeks post-treatment The Boston Naming Test Short Form has 30 pictures of common objects that upon seeing each picture, individuals need to name the object as soon as one can. The outcome measure for this task is the number of correctly named items. Changes in scores from baseline to testing immediately following the completion of condition will be examined as well as from baseline to 8 months post-treatment.
BNT: Boston Naming Test - Short Form, 0-30 score, higher scores reflect better performanceChanges in Delis Kaplan Executive Function System (DKEFS) Verbal Fluency Test Pre-treatment, post-treatment (an average of 2 weeks), and 8 weeks post-treatment The DKEFS Verbal Fluency Test is a measure of word retrieval. The task has 3 conditions each lasting 60 seconds, requiring the subject to name words by phonemes, semantic categories, and then switching between two semantic categories. The outcome measure for this task is the total words named for each of the 3 conditions. Changes in scores from baseline to testing immediately following the completion of each condition will be examined as well as from baseline to 8 months post-treatment.
DKEFS: Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Verbal Fluency Test, 0-no upper limit for each trial, higher scores reflect better performance
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
🇺🇸Dallas, Texas, United States