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Purpose

This study will evaluate the effects of a form of non-invasive brain stimulation on brain functioning and memory in cognitively intact older adults (healthy controls, HC) and in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Condition

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Over 60 Years
Eligible Sex
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Inclusion Criteria

  • Normal cognition for HC and diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) for MCI participants - Right-handedness - Magnetic resonance compatible, criteria that also apply for high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS; e.g., absence of metallic or electronic implants in the upper body or head)

Exclusion Criteria

  • History of other contributing neurological or medical conditions known to affect cognitive functioning - Significant mental illness - Sensory impairments that limit ability to participate - History of alcohol or drug abuse/dependence

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Intervention Model Description
Healthy controls (HC) and individuals with MCI will be randomized 1:1:1:1 to receive either sham or active stimulation (i.e., HC sham tDCS, HC active tDCS, MCI sham tDCS, MCI active tDCS) for 1 session using a blocked randomization design.
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Double (Participant, Investigator)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Sham Comparator
HC sham tDCS 		Sham (placebo) dose of HD-tDCS treatment for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
  • Device: sham tDCS
    Participants will receive sham (placebo) HD-tDCS for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
Experimental
HC active tDCS 		3 milliAmp dose of HD-tDCS treatment for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
  • Device: active tDCS
    Participants will receive HD-tDCS at 3 milliAmp for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
Sham Comparator
MCI sham tDCS 		Sham (placebo) dose of HD-tDCS treatment for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
  • Device: sham tDCS
    Participants will receive sham (placebo) HD-tDCS for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
Experimental
MCI active tDCS 		3 milliAmp dose of HD-tDCS treatment for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
  • Device: active tDCS
    Participants will receive HD-tDCS at 3 milliAmp for 20 minutes, for 1 session.

Recruiting Locations

University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
Contact:
Alexandru Iordan, Ph.D
734-764-2909
adiordan@med.umich.edu

More Details

Status
Recruiting
Sponsor
University of Michigan

Study Contact

Harini Babu, MSc
734-647-3704
hariniba@umich.edu

Detailed Description

The goal of this study is to learn important information about the effects of weak electrical stimulation (known as high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation or HD-tDCS) on brain functioning in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The findings will help determine how stimulation affects brain's activity and metabolism (in particular, the neurotransmitter glutamate). Ultimately, this information may help develop new treatments for those with Alzheimer's disease. The study will use different forms of brain imaging to see whether stimulation changes how the brain responds during a memory task. Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be used. The study also uses cognitive tests and questionnaires.

Notice

Study information shown on this site is derived from ClinicalTrials.gov (a public registry operated by the National Institutes of Health). The listing of studies provided is not certain to be all studies for which you might be eligible. Furthermore, study eligibility requirements can be difficult to understand and may change over time, so it is wise to speak with your medical care provider and individual research study teams when making decisions related to participation.