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Alzheimer DiseaseNCT03920826

Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation for Patients With Mild Alzheimer's Disease (TRANSFORM-AD)

A study testing transcranial alternating current stimulation in people with Alzheimer Disease, run by Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing at 1 site in China.

Completed

Finished. The study has ended and is not enrolling. Results may be posted on the official record.

Official record
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Trial summary

The goal of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study will recruit 40 individuals with mild AD with evidence of amyloid plaques in the brain through Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. Read more about this study

Who is it for?
Ages 45 to 75 years
Conditions the study is for
Alzheimer Disease
What is being tested?
transcranial alternating current stimulation
Type of treatment
Medical device
Could I receive a placebo?
Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
How many people
46 participants
Where
1 siteChina
Study dates
11 Sep 2019to 15 Apr 2022
Phase
Interventional
Are there results?
None posted in the registry

Key requirements

Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.

  • Ages 45 to 75 years
  • All sexes
  • No healthy volunteers
  • Adult, Older adult

Who may be able to join

  • Subjects with informed consent;
  • 45-75 years of age;
  • At least 6 years of education;
  • AD according to the National Institute on Aging and the Alzheimer's Association (NIA-AA) guidelines;
  • Clinical Dementia Rating Scale (CDR)=1.0;
  • Positive findings in amyloid PET imaging or decreased CSF levels of Aβ1-42;
  • On a stable dose of cholinesterase inhibitors (e.g. donepezil or rivastigmine) as defined as 6 consecutive weeks of treatment at an unchanging dose, and without any intentions to modify the dosage during the observation period.

Who cannot join

  • Current or past history of any neurological disorder other than dementia, such as epilepsy, stroke, progressive neurologic disease (e.g. multiple sclerosis), poorly controlled migraines or intracranial brain lesions; and history of previous neurosurgery or head trauma that resulted in residual neurologic impairment;
  • Contraindication for undergoing MRI or receiving tACS;
  • Eczema or sensitive skin;
  • Familial AD;
  • Depression or other psychiatric disorders;
  • Abnormal brain structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan, including hydrocephalus, stroke, structural lesions, etc. that would potentially confound the outcome;
  • Severe cardiovascular/pulmonary disorders;
  • Other conditions, in the investigator's opinion, might not be suitable for the study.

Trial locations and contacts

1 site in 1 country.

China1 site
  • Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University

    Beijing, 100053

Other trials in China

About this study

Official title: The Effects of TRanscranial AlterNating Current Stimulation FOR Patients With Mild Alzheimer's Disease (TRANSFORM-AD Study): A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

The goal of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study will recruit 40 individuals with mild AD with evidence of amyloid plaques in the brain through Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging. Participants will undergo baseline cognitive assessment, structural and functional MRI characterization, PiB-PET, and resting-state EEG measurement. The participants will be randomized to either a tACS group or a sham stimulation group. At the end of the intervention and 3-month follow-up, all subjects will repeat the baseline assessments.

Read the detailed description

Background: Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most prevalent cause of dementia. Given the limited efficacy of pharmacological treatments, non-pharmacological approaches in AD are of great interest. In these approaches, brain stimulation technique is an important one, because of its potential to modulate cognitive functions in many neuropsychiatric diseases. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), as a neuromodulatory technique, oscillates a sinusoidal current at a chosen frequency to interact with the brain's natural cortical oscillations. Hypothetically, tACS would reduce cortical hyperactivity and induces cognitive improvement or delay cognitive decline in patients with AD.

Objectives This double-blinded, randomized controlled trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of tACS in patients with mild AD. The second objective is to evaluate the effect of tACS on neural plasticity, which is assessed by structural and functional MRI, PiB-PET, and resting-state EEG.

Patients and Methods The proposed study is a double-blinded, randomized controlled trial that will include 40 individuals with mild AD with positive findings in amyloid PET imaging or amyloid protein levels in CSF. The participants will be randomized to either a tACS group or a sham stimulation group. Both groups will undergo 30 one-hour sessions in 3 weeks (21 days). All the outcomes will be assessed at baseline, end of intervention and 3 months after the first intervention to measure long-term resilience of the effect.

Being tested
transcranial alternating current stimulation, sham stimulation
Medical subject headings
Alzheimer Disease

What participants receive

What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.

  • transcranial alternating current stimulationDevice

    The alternating current is administered through medical grade conductive pads that are produced specifically for the Nexalin technology. The pads are places on the forehead and behind each ear, and are connected to the Nexalin device with thin cables. Intervention will be implemented with a tACS device with gamma-frequency (40 Hz) and a peak-to-peak amplitude of 15mA, 30 one-hour sessions in 3 weeks (21 days).

  • sham stimulationDevice

    Electrodes will also be put on patient's forehead and behind each ear. The sham stimulator has the exactly same appearance with the true stimulator. Participants and operators cannot determine whether the stimulator is true based on its appearance or patients' feelings. However, when the device is started, no current flows through the electrodes. Participants in this controlled group will also receive sham stimulations with 30 one-hour sessions in 21 days.

Study groups in NCT03920826
Study groupRoleWhat they receive
tACS stimulation groupExperimentalNEXALIN ADI transcranial alternating current stimulator
Receives: Device: transcranial alternating current stimulation
sham stimulation groupSham comparatorSham stimulator provided by NEXALIN company
Receives: Device: sham stimulation

What is being measured

The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.

  1. Change in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog, 11-items version).

    ADAS-cog 11 scale ranges from 0 to 70, and higher value represents a worse outcome. This study will use ADAS-cog to assess changes in the global cognitive function after intervention.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention)

Secondary outcomes (16)
  1. Change in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog, 11-items version).

    ADAS-cog 11 scale ranges from 0 to 70, and higher value represents a worse outcome. This study will use ADAS-cog to assess changes in the global cognitive function after intervention.

    Measured: 3 months

  2. Change in brain volume and white matter integrity

    Structural MRI will be used to measure brain volume and white matter integrity.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  3. Change in brain connectivity

    Functional MRI and resting-state EEG will be used to measure brain connectivity.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  4. Change in amyloid deposit in brain

    PiB-PET will be used to analyze the amyloid deposit in brain.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention)

  5. Change in Mini-mental State Examination

    Mini-mental State Examination (MMSE) will be used to evaluate the general cognitive function. MMSE ranges from 0 to 30, and higher value represents a better outcome.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  6. Change in Montreal Cognitive Assessment

    Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) will be used to evaluate the general cognitive function. MoCA ranges from 0 to 30, and higher value represents a better outcome.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  7. Change in Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of the boxes

    Clinical Dementia Rating Scale sum of the boxes (CDR-SB) will be used to evaluate the general cognitive function. CDR-SB ranges from 0 to 18, and higher value represents a worse outcome.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  8. Change in memory function

    WHO-UCLA Auditory Verbal Learning Test will be used to assess memory function. It ranges from 0 to 45, and higher value represents a better outcome.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  9. Change in Digit span forward

    Digit span will be used to assess attention. It ranges from 3 to 10, and higher value represents a better outcome.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  10. Change in Digit span backward

    Digit span backward will be used to assess executive function. It ranges from 2 to 8, and higher value represents a better outcome.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  11. Change in Trail Making Test

    Trail-Making Test B minus A score will be used to assess executive function. Trail-Making Test B minus A ranges from -150 to 300, higher value represents a worse outcome.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  12. Change in Boston Naming Test

    Boston Naming Test will be used to assess language function. It ranges from 0 to 30, and higher value represents a better outcome.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  13. Change in Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)

    The Neuropsychiatric Inventory will be used to measure neuropsychiatric symptoms. It ranges from 0 to 144, and higher value represents a worse outcome.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  14. Change in Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS)

    The Geriatric Depression Scale will be used to measure neuropsychiatric symptoms. It ranges from 0 to 30, and higher value represents a worse outcome.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  15. Change in Activities of Daily Living

    Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale will be used to assess the change of life quality. It ranges from 20 to 80. The "20" represents normal life ability and the higher score presents the worse life ability.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

  16. Side-effects of tACS

    Adverse Events as a result of tACS stimulation will be reported.

    Measured: up to 21 days (end of intervention), 3 months

Timeline

From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.

  1. First posted19 Apr 2019
  2. Study start11 Sep 2019
  3. Primary completion15 Jan 2022
  4. Study completion15 Apr 2022

Resources

More details

For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.

Study design
Study type
Interventional
Phase
Phase N/A
Primary purpose
Treatment
Allocation
Randomised
Intervention model
Parallel groups
Masking
Quadruple blind
Who is masked
Participant, Care provider, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
Enrolment
46 participants (actual)
IDs, dates and publications
ClinicalTrials.gov ID
NCT03920826
Sponsor's protocol ID
2018077-XZ1
Status last verified
Oct 2022
First submitted
26 Feb 2019
Last updated
18 Oct 2022
Results posted
No
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No

Publications

  • Qiao Y, Chen H, Fan K, Yang X, Yu Y, Wang R, Xing Y, Tang Y. High-intensity transcranial alternating current stimulation improves sleep quality in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease: Findings from the TRANSFORM-AD study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2026 Oct 10:13872877261492561. doi: 10.1177/13872877261492561. Online ahead of print.

    PubMed 42858052
  • Wang T, Yan S, Shan Y, Xue H, Xing Y, Bi S, Chen Z, Xi H, Qi Z, Tang Y, Lu J. Modulation of Cortical and Hippocampal Functional MRI Connectivity Following Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation in Mild Alzheimer Disease. Radiology. 2025 Jun;315(3):e241463. doi: 10.1148/radiol.241463.

    PubMed 40552996
  • Wang T, Yan S, Shan Y, Xing Y, Bi S, Chen Z, Xi H, Xue H, Qi Z, Tang Y, Lu J. Altered Neuronal Activity Patterns of the Prefrontal Cortex in Alzheimer's Disease After Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation: A Resting-State fMRI Study. J Alzheimers Dis. 2024;101(3):901-912. doi: 10.3233/JAD-240400.

    PubMed 39269839
  • Tang Y, Xing Y, Sun L, Wang Z, Wang C, Yang K, Zhu W, Shi X, Xie B, Yin Y, Mi Y, Wei T, Tong R, Qiao Y, Yan S, Wei P, Yang Y, Shan Y, Zhang X, Jia J, Teipel SJ, Howard R, Lu J, Li C, Zhao G. TRanscranial AlterNating current stimulation FOR patients with mild Alzheimer's Disease (TRANSFORM-AD): a randomized controlled clinical trial. Alzheimers Res Ther. 2024 Sep 12;16(1):203. doi: 10.1186/s13195-024-01570-0.

    PubMed 39267112

Questions about this trial

What is this clinical trial studying?

A study testing transcranial alternating current stimulation in people with Alzheimer Disease, run by Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing at 1 site in China.

The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.

Who may be eligible to take part?

The sponsor lists 7 inclusion and 8 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.

Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?

The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 18 Oct 2022. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.

Where is the study taking place?

The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.

What are the possible benefits and risks?

They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.

Are results available for this study?

The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.

How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?

The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.

What does the primary outcome measure?

Change in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale cognitive subscale (ADAS-cog, 11-items version). (time frame: up to 21 days (end of intervention)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.

Where can I read the original study information?

On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT03920826, which also lists 4 linked publications.

Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?

No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.

How often is this information updated?

AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 18 Oct 2022.

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