Dr. Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD
Claim this profileJohns Hopkins Hospital
Studies Primary Progressive Aphasia
Studies Pick's Disease
6 reported clinical trials
9 drugs studied
Affiliated Hospitals
Clinical Trials Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD is currently running
Electrical Stimulation
for Learning and Memory in Alzheimer's and Primary Progressive Aphasia
This trial tests a new treatment for Alzheimer's patients using a gentle electrical brain stimulation combined with memory exercises. It aims to help those who struggle with memory or language by improving brain cell connections. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) has shown positive effects on memory, verbal fluency, and affective behavior in Alzheimer's patients in previous studies.
Recruiting1 award N/A4 criteria
HD-tDCS + Language Therapy
for Primary Progressive Aphasia
AD afflicts over 5.5. million Americans and is one of the most expensive diseases worldwide. In AD the variant in which language functions are most affected are referred to as 'logopenic variant Primary Progressive Aphasia' (lvPPA). Language deficits dramatically impair communication and quality of life for both patients and caregivers. PPA usually has an early onset (50-65 years of age), detrimentally affecting work and family life. Studies have identified verbal short-term memory/working memory (vSTM/WM) as a primary deficit and cause of language impairment. In the first cycle of this award, the investigators asked the question of whether language therapy effects could be augmented by electrical stimulation. The investigators conducted the largest to-date randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, crossover, clinical trial to determine the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in PPA. The investigators found that tDCS over the left inferior frontal gyrus (L_IFG), one of the major language hubs in the brain, significantly enhanced the effects of a written naming and spelling intervention. In addition, findings demonstrated that tDCS modulates functional connectivity between the stimulated area and other networks (e.g. functionally and structurally connected areas), and that tDCS modulates the inhibitory neurotransmitter gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In terms of tDCS, the investigators have been identified several predictors to determine the beneficience of tDCS including (a) PPA variant, (b) initial performance on cognitive/language tasks, particularly vSTM/WM, and (c) initial white-matter integrity and structure. These findings support the notion that tDCS benefits generalize beyond the treatment tasks and has led to the important question of the present study: How can we implement treatments to product benefits that maximally generalize to untrained but vital language/cognitive functions. To address the above question, the investigators will test recent neuroplasticity theories that claim that the benefits of neuromodulation to language-specific areas generalize to other language functions within the language network, while neuromodulation of a domain-general/multiple-demands area generalizes to both domain-general, executive and language functions. The two areas to be stimulated will be the supramarginal gyrus (SMG) and left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) respectively. The left supramarginal gyrus (L_SMG) in particular, specializes in phonological processing, namely phonological verbal short-term memory (vSTM), i.e., the ability to temporarily store phonological (and graphemic) information in order. The domain of vSTM affects many language tasks (repetition, naming, syntax), which makes it an ideal treatment target and the L_SMG an ideal stimulation target, since generalization of tDCS effects to other language tasks is driven by the function (computation) of the stimulated area. By testing a fundamental principle of neuromodulation in a devastating neurodegenerative disorder, the investigators will significantly advance the field of neurorehabilitation in early-onset dementias. Aim 1: To determine whether vSTM/WM behavioral therapy combined with high definition (HD)-tDCS over the L_SMG will induce more generalization to language-specific tasks than to executive tasks, whereas stimulation over the LDPFC will induce equivalent generalization to both executive and language-specific tasks. Aim 2: To understand the mechanism of tDCS by measuring tDCS-induced changes in network functional connectivity (FC) and GABA in the LSMG and LDPFC. The investigators will carry out resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging (rsfMRI), (MPRAGE), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI), perfusion imaging (pCASL), and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), before, after, and 3-months post-intervention. Aim 3: To identify the neural, cognitive, physiological, clinical and demographic characteristics (biomarkers) that predict sham, tDCS, and tDCS vs. sham effects on vSTM and related language tasks in PPA. The investigators will evaluate neural (functional and structural connectivity, cortical volume, neuropeptides, and perfusion), cognitive (memory, attention, executive) and language functions, clinical (severity), physiological (sleep), and demographic (age, gender) characteristics, and the investigators will analyze the effects on vSTM and other language/cognitive outcomes immediately after intervention and at 3 months post-intervention.
Recruiting1 award N/A2 criteria
More about Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD
Clinical Trial Related4 years of experience running clinical trials · Led 6 trials as a Principal Investigator · 3 Active Clinical TrialsTreatments Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD has experience with
- Sham
- Active HD-tDCS
- Active TDCS + Language Therapy
- Sham TDCS + Language Therapy
- Home-based TDCS
- High-definition Active TDCS (HD-tDCS)
Breakdown of trials Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD has run
Primary Progressive Aphasia
Pick's Disease
Global Aphasia
Frontotemporal Dementia
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Frequently asked questions
Do I need insurance to participate in a trial?
Almost all clinical trials will cover the cost of the ‘trial drug’ — so no insurance is required for this. For trials where this trial drug is given alongside an already-approved medication, there may be a cost (which your insurance would normally cover).
What does Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD specialize in?
Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD focuses on Primary Progressive Aphasia and Pick's Disease. In particular, much of their work with Primary Progressive Aphasia has involved treating patients, or patients who are undergoing treatment.
Is Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD currently recruiting for clinical trials?
Yes, Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD is currently recruiting for 3 clinical trials in Baltimore Maryland. If you're interested in participating, you should apply.
Are there any treatments that Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD has studied deeply?
Yes, Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD has studied treatments such as Sham, Active HD-tDCS, Active tDCS + Language Therapy.
What is the best way to schedule an appointment with Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD?
Apply for one of the trials that Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD is conducting.
What is the office address of Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD?
The office of Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD is located at: Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland 21287 United States. This is the address for their practice at the Johns Hopkins Hospital.
Is there any support for travel costs?
The coverage of travel expenses can vary greatly between different clinical trials. Please see more financial detail in the trials you’re interested to apply.