Effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on patients with apraxia of speech: a combined tDCS-fMRI study

Phase 4

• Conditions: R47.1; R47.0; Dysarthria and anarthria; Dysphasia and aphasia

• Registration Number: DRKS00011116
• Lead Sponsor: niklinik RWTH Aachen, Klinik für Neurologie

Brief Summary

Not available

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2017-08-31
• Study Completion: 2019-12-31
• Last Update Posted: 19 August 2024

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: Recruiting stopped after recruiting started
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 2

Inclusion Criteria

Etiology of aphasia: first-ever ischemic stroke of the left cerebral hemisphere; chronic phase of the disease: >6 months post-onset; presence of apraxia of speech as diagnosed by speech and language therapist as well as neurologist; right-handed; German as native language

Exclusion Criteria

Severe aphasia with language comprehension <25 in the relevant subtest of the AAT; left-handedness; contraindications for tDCS (e.g., epilepsy); contraindications for MRI; no/reduced compliance; participation in clinical trial in the last 3 months.

Study & Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Improvements in language abilities in the VERUM-cohort as opposed to the SHAM-cohort. Improvements will be measured using the Hierarchical Word Lists in the week prior the first week of therapy and the week following the last therapeutic session (week 3).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
1) Improvements in other linguistic domains in the VERUM-cohort as opposed to the sham-cohort. These endpoints will be assessed using the AAT ((Aachener Aphasie Test), a novel test measuring apraxia of speech (AoS) and a formal test of diadochokinesis. Test points will be the week prior and the week after therapy (week 3). <br>2) Quality of life; the ALQUI will be applied in the week prior to therapy and 20 weeks after therapy. <br>3) Neuronal marker correlating with linguistic improvements. Structural (T1, DTI) and functional MRI (task based: spontaneous speech, diadochokinesis; resting state fMRI) will be employed prior to therapy and in the week after therapy (week 3).