The Effects of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation on Physical and Mental Functioning in Older Adults

Not Applicable

Completed

Conditions: Aging

Interventions: Other: Real tDCS
Other: Sham tDCS

Registration Number: NCT02436915

Lead Sponsor: Hebrew SeniorLife

Brief Summary: The objective of this study is to determine whether augmentation of prefrontal brain excitability using noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) lessens the severity of the symptom triad associated with cerebral microvascular disease (CMD); that is, slow gait, cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms. Investigators will complete this objective by conducting a pilot, double-blinded randomized controlled trial of a 10-day intervention of real versus sham tDCS in 40 subjects.

Detailed Description: Biological aging, especially when coupled with cardiovascular risk factors, leads to chronic endothelial dysfunction within cerebral micro-vessels that impairs the brain's ability to meet the metabolic demands placed upon it by everyday life. This chronic mismatch between blood supply and metabolic demand often leads to cerebral microvascular disease (CMD), or the accumulation of ischemic damage within a network of frontal and subcortical regions. CMD is recognized as white matter hyperintensities on MRI scans and manifests clinically as mobility impairment, executive dysfunction and depressed affect. As 11-17% of elderly individuals present with this constellation of symptoms, and each of these symptoms is independently linked to increased morbidity and mortality, CMD is a critical yet understudied healthcare issue with rapidly-growing personal and economic costs.

There is currently no cure for CMD and trials aimed at pharmacological improvement of nonselective systemic vasodilation report no therapeutic value (Sorrond \& Lipsitz, 2011). Our team, however, has demonstrated that the severity of clinical symptoms suffered by those with CMD is critically dependent upon the brain's remaining capacity to activate the appropriate cortical networks when metabolic demand is increased by the performance of various cognitive-motor tasks (Purkayastha et al., 2014; Sorond et al., 2010; Sorond et al., 2011). Therefore, investigators predict that improvement in the capacity to activate the appropriate cortical networks in response to increased metabolic demand would ameliorate the symptoms and improve the quality of life of patients with CMD.

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enables noninvasive, selective and sustained modulation of cortical activation. tDCS works by sending low-level currents between two or more scalp electrodes, which alters brain polarity and thus, perfusion and cortical excitability. One 20-minute session of tDCS targeting the left prefrontal cortex acutely increases cortical activation during both cognitive and motor task performance in healthy adults. Investigators have demonstrated that this same stimulation improves mobility and cognitive performance in community-dwelling older adults. Moreover, repeated tDCS sessions over a one month period reduce symptoms of depression and may improve executive function in healthy individuals. This preliminary evidence suggests that tDCS may be an effective intervention for CMD; however, the impact of tDCS on this disease has not been investigated.

The study investigators ultimately aim to investigate the therapeutic efficacy of tDCS in patients with CMD by conducting a double-blind, proof-of-principle, sham-controlled trail along with extensive functional and neurophysiological assessments. In order to finalize the design and plan the implementation of this definitive trial, investigators currently aim to:

1. Conduct a pilot study to establish the feasibility of deployment of tDCS in large populations of individuals with CMD, and to obtain preliminary evidence for a causal effect of the intervention on mobility, executive function and depressive symptoms in this population.

2. Within the pilot study, investigate the effects of the tDCS intervention on cortical activation in response to cognitive-motor tasks.

This study will provide first-of-its-kind, proof-of-principle evidence on whether tDCS provides meaningful symptomatic relief to patients with CMD. Moreover, it will inform a more definitive, larger-scale randomized controlled trial (RCT) by providing information on recruitment and retention, compliance, estimates of effect size, and the neurophysiological underpinnings of expected functional improvements. If successful, knowledge gained is also expected to spur the investigation of tDCS as treatment for many other diseases-from dementia to diabetes-that negatively impact the brain's capacity to activate appropriate cortical networks.

Recruitment & Eligibility

Status: COMPLETED

Sex: All

Target Recruitment: 19

Inclusion Criteria

Slow gait, defined by an over-ground preferred walking speed of less than or equal to 1.0 m/s.
Executive dysfunction, defined by a Trail Making Test B z-score of greater than one standard deviation below age- and gender-based norms.

Exclusion Criteria

Non-ambulatory
Clinical history or brain imaging evidence of a previous stroke
Parkinson's Disease
Normal pressure hydrocephalus
Other neurodegenerative condition
Severe depression
Lower-extremity arthritis or pain causing slow gait
Inability or unwillingness to understand or participate in the study protocol
Contraindications to MRI or tDCS, including (but not limited to) personal or family history of epilepsy, use of neuro-active drugs, claustrophobia or risk of metal objects in the body.

Study & Design

Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL

Study Design: PARALLEL

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Real tDCS	Real tDCS	The "real tDCS" intervention will consist of 10 daily 20-minute sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) targeting left prefrontal cortex at a target current intensity of 1.5 mA.
Sham tDCS	Sham tDCS	The "sham tDCS" intervention will consist of 10 daily 20-minute sessions of transcranial direct current stimulation with same montage as the "real tDCS", except current will only be applied for the first 60 seconds of each session.

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percent Change From Baseline to Post Intervention on Dual Task Cost to Standing Postural Sway Speed	baseline, immediately after intervention and 2 weeks post intervention	Postural sway speed - assessed by measuring standing postural sway (ie., center-of pressure fluctuations) during six, 30-second trials of standing with eyes open (single task) or performing a cognitive task (dual task standing) on a stationary force platform (Kistler, Amherst, NY). Dual task cost is defined as the percent change of sway speed from single task standing to dual task standing. The outcome was obtained by averaging the dual task costs of the six trials.
Percent Change From Baseline to Post Intervention on Global Cognition Impairment	Baseline, immediately after intervention and 2 weeks post intervention	The Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score is used as the outcome measure of Global Cognition Impairment. MoCA score ranges from 0 to 30. Lower MoCA score represents poorer cognitive function (i.e., more severe Global Cognition Impairment).
Percent Change From Baseline to Post Intervention on Dual Task Cost to Walking Speed in 24-meter Walking Test	baseline, immediately after intervention and 2 weeks post intervention	Six 24-meter walking trials at a preferred speed are completed and each three of them are in normal or dual task condition. The GaitRite pressure mat (Havertown, PA) will be used to record bilateral foot placements and measure the walking speed. Dual task cost to walking speed is defined as the percent change of walking speed from normal walking to dual task walking. The outcome was calculated by averaging the dual task costs of the six trials.
Percent Change From Baseline to Post Intervention on Mobility	baseline, immediately after intervention and 2 weeks post intervention	Mobility and turning will be assessed by the timed up-and-go test (TUG) (Podsiadlo \& Richardson, 1991). The participant will be seated in an armed chair. On the word "go," the subject will stand up using the arm rests if needed, walk (with assistive device if needed) around a cone placed three meters in front of the chair, return and sit down as quickly as possible. Time to complete the TUG test will be used as the outcome measure.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Percent Change From Baseline to Post Intervention on Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Score	baseline, immediately after intervention and 2 weeks post intervention	GDS total Score. The GDS total score ranges from 0 to 15. Higher GDS score represents more severe depression.
Percent Change From Baseline to Post Intervention on Trial Making Test (TMT)	baseline, immediately after intervention and 2 weeks post intervention	Time to complete Trail Making Test part B minus time to complete TMT part A. Slower time to complete TMT-B as compared to TMT-A represents poorer executive function.
Percent Change From Baseline to Post Intervention on Dual-task Cost to Standing Sway Area	baseline, immediately after intervention and 2 weeks post intervention	Postural sway speed - assessed by measuring standing postural sway (ie., center-of pressure fluctuations) during six, 30-second trials of standing with eyes open (single task) or performing a cognitive task (dual task standing) on a stationary force platform (Kistler, Amherst, NY). Dual task cost is defined as the percent change of sway area from single task standing to dual task standing. The outcome was calculated by averaging the dual task costs of the six trials.
Percent Change From Baseline to Post Intervention on Dual Task Cost to Stride Time in 24-meter Walking Test	baseline, immediately after intervention and 2 weeks post intervention	Six 24-meter walking trials at a preferred speed are completed and each three of them are in normal or dual task condition. The GaitRite pressure mat (Havertown, PA) will be used to record bilateral foot placements and measure the walking speed. Dual task cost to stride time is defined as the percent change of stride time from normal walking to dual task walking.The outcome was calculated by averaging the dual task costs of the six trials.