Brain Stimulation for Mild Cognitive Impairment

N/A

Recruiting

Led By Melike Kahya

Research Sponsored by Hebrew SeniorLife

Eligibility Criteria Checklist

Specific guidelines that determine who can or cannot participate in a clinical trial

Must have

Be older than 65 years old

Timeline

Screening 3 weeks

Treatment Varies

Follow Up change from immediately before and after each 20-minute session of tacs

Summary

This trial will test if a single session of brain stimulation can improve standing, walking, and thinking in older people with or without mild cognitive impairments. 60 people are taking part.

Who is the study for?

This trial is for adults aged 65 and older, both with and without mild cognitive impairments (MCI), who can stand and walk on their own. Participants must have a MOCA score above 18, be able to understand the study's consent form, and agree to all requirements. Those with major psychiatric disorders, active cancer under treatment, recent severe illness or injury affecting mobility, neurodegenerative diseases other than MCI, or contraindications to brain stimulation are excluded.

What is being tested?

The study is examining the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) on standing balance, walking ability, and cognitive function in older adults. It compares real tACS against a sham (placebo-like) intervention in about 60 participants to see if it improves these functions in those with or without MCI.

What are the potential side effects?

While tACS has been used safely in many individuals before this trial does not explicitly list potential side effects; however common ones from similar studies may include mild headache or discomfort at the electrode sites during application.

Timeline

Screening ~ 3 weeks3 visits

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~ change from immediately before and after each 20-minute session of tacs

Screening ~ 3 weeks

Treatment ~ Varies

Follow Up ~change from immediately before and after each 20-minute session of tacs

This trial's timeline: 3 weeks for screening, Varies for treatment, and change from immediately before and after each 20-minute session of tacs for reporting.

Treatment Details

Study Objectives

Study objectives can provide a clearer picture of what you can expect from a treatment.

Primary study objectives

EEG alpha-band power

Postural sway speed

Secondary study objectives

EEG beta-band power

EEG theta-band power

Postural sway area

+2 more

Trial Design

2Treatment groups

Active Control

Placebo Group

Group I: real tACSActive Control1 Intervention

The investigators will administer the transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) intervention at 10 Hz to the participants. This intervention will utilize 6 electrodes; electrode placement and current parameters for each electrode have been optimized using a standard brain to generate an average electric field of 0.25 V/m. To ensure adherence to current safety recommendations for tACS, optimizations will be constrained to a maximum of total injected current 4.0 mA and a max. current per electrode of 2.0 mA. Stimulation will start and end with a 60 s ramp up/down to maximize comfort. This standard approach is both well-tolerated and safe in older adults. In a separate visit, we will use an active sham in which very low-level currents (0.5 mA total) will be transferred between electrodes in close proximity on the scalp throughout the entire 20-minute session.

Group II: sham tACSPlacebo Group1 Intervention

The investigators will administer the sham tACS intervention to the participants. They will use an active sham in which very low-level alternating currents (0.5 mA total) will be transferred between electrodes in close proximity on the scalp throughout the entire 20-minute session.

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