Alzheimer DiseaseNCT04524338
Longitudinal Study Examining At-Home tDCS
A study testing Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in people with Alzheimer Disease, run by Lady Davis Institute at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
Participants with dementia have reported improvements after receiving tDCS in a study at our lab. Although we make an effort to enroll such participants in further tDCS research studies, some participants are ineligible for further studies or simply unwilling to continue being a research participant. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 50 to 100 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Alzheimer Disease
- What is being tested?
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 20 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 22 Feb 2021to 31 Oct 2026
- 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 50 to 100 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease or other form of dementia (e.g., Primary Progressive Aphasia)
Who cannot join
- Metal in the head or other factors that would make stimulation unsafe
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Canada1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Perform Centre
Montreal, Quebec, H4B 1R6
Shelley Solomon, 5143408222 ext. 25129, shelley.solomon2@mail.mcgill.ca
About this study
Official title: Longitudinal Study Examining At-Home Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
Participants with dementia have reported improvements after receiving tDCS in a study at our lab. Although we make an effort to enroll such participants in further tDCS research studies, some participants are ineligible for further studies or simply unwilling to continue being a research participant. These same individuals, however, are interested in purchasing their own tDCS machine and have approached us for advice on how to purchase their own machine. Because these devices are commercially available, there is nothing theoretically stopping these participants from purchasing their own machine. Therefore, we have chosen to carry out a longitudinal study that will allow us to serve as an advisory role for participants who have decided to continue administering tDCS at home. We will recommend the tDCS related items that should be purchased, and train participants on how to properly administer tDCS. Monthly reports will also be collected, which will allow us to monitor the person's condition. We plan to monitor participants for at least two years. From these reports, we will be able determine to what extent tDCS is beneficial when done at home as a treatment for dementia symptoms.
Read the detailed description
In the past decade, several studies have noted that the application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) when applied to the scalp of a person with dementia, as they completed a training task in a particular domain, can lead to improved performance on that task (liu, Rau, Gallagher, Rajji, Lanctot, \& Hermann, 2017). In our own lab, we have also seen improvements in response to the application of TdCS. For example, we found that applying transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to people with dementia led to an improvement in naming ability (Roncero, Kniefel, Service, Thiel, Probst, \& Chertkow, 2017). Recently, we have initiated additional studies in domains such as executive function and memory. These studies remain in progress, but participants have again shown improvement, and the improvement is noted by the families. Some of the participants who completed a tDCS study in our lab are so impressed by the results that they have approached us about the purchase of their own tDCS machine. Some of these participants have even tried medication in the past and report tDCS is more effective. Because tDCS machines are commercially available, these individuals could in theory go about buying their own machines at their own initiative; however, participants would prefer our assistance obtaining a machine and be trained on how to administer tDCS at home.
Proposed Study We will assist participants obtain their own tDCS machine, we have decided to do so in the form of a longitudinal study. More specifically, we plan to assist participants obtain their own machine and train them on the administration of tDCS, but will also collect longitudinal data from them. We will obtain monthly reports that will allow us to monitor whether stimulation remains effective and the general condition of the participant for at least two years.
- Conditions
- Alzheimer Disease
- Being tested
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- Keywords
- Transcranial Direct Current 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 Direct Current StimulationDevice
Also called tDCS
Brain Stimulation Devices attached to scalp
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| At Home tDCS Users | Experimental | Participants conducting tDCS at home Receives: Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
General Cognition
Improved General Cognition as defined by scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Test has scores from 0-30, where higher scores reflect better cognition. In this study, an increased score would reflect an improvement in general cognition, which we would interpret as associated with the application of transcranial direct current stimulation
Measured: two years
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted24 Aug 2020
- Study start22 Feb 2021
- Primary completion31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Alzheimer DiseaseStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
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
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Lady Davis Institute
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Carlos Roncero, Lady Davis Institute
- Investigators
- Carlos Roncero, PhD, Principal investigator, Baycrest
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04524338
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- #2020-1885
- Status last verified
- Aug 2024
- First submitted
- 20 Aug 2020
- Last updated
- 13 Aug 2024
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 13 Aug 2024. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Longitudinal Study Examining At-Home Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT04524338
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- #2020-1885
- Conditions
- Alzheimer Disease
- Keywords
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Unknown status
- Enrolment
- 20 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Lady Davis InstituteUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 22 Feb 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Oct 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 24 Aug 2020 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Participants with dementia have reported improvements after receiving tDCS in a study at our lab. Although we make an effort to enroll such participants in further tDCS research studies, some participants are ineligible for further studies or simply unwilling to continue being a research participant. These same individuals, however, are interested in purchasing their own tDCS machine and have approached us for advice on how to purchase their own machine. Because these devices are commercially available, there is nothing theoretically stopping these participants from purchasing their own machine. Therefore, we have chosen to carry out a longitudinal study that will allow us to serve as an advisory role for participants who have decided to continue administering tDCS at home. We will recommend the tDCS related items that should be purchased, and train participants on how to properly administer tDCS. Monthly reports will also be collected, which will allow us to monitor the person's condition. We plan to monitor participants for at least two years. From these reports, we will be able determine to what extent tDCS is beneficial when done at home as a treatment for dementia symptoms.
Detailed description
In the past decade, several studies have noted that the application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) when applied to the scalp of a person with dementia, as they completed a training task in a particular domain, can lead to improved performance on that task (liu, Rau, Gallagher, Rajji, Lanctot, \& Hermann, 2017). In our own lab, we have also seen improvements in response to the application of TdCS. For example, we found that applying transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to people with dementia led to an improvement in naming ability (Roncero, Kniefel, Service, Thiel, Probst, \& Chertkow, 2017). Recently, we have initiated additional studies in domains such as executive function and memory. These studies remain in progress, but participants have again shown improvement, and the improvement is noted by the families. Some of the participants who completed a tDCS study in our lab are so impressed by the results that they have approached us about the purchase of their own tDCS machine. Some of these participants have even tried medication in the past and report tDCS is more effective. Because tDCS machines are commercially available, these individuals could in theory go about buying their own machines at their own initiative; however, participants would prefer our assistance obtaining a machine and be trained on how to administer tDCS at home.
Proposed Study We will assist participants obtain their own tDCS machine, we have decided to do so in the form of a longitudinal study. More specifically, we plan to assist participants obtain their own machine and train them on the administration of tDCS, but will also collect longitudinal data from them. We will obtain monthly reports that will allow us to monitor whether stimulation remains effective and the general condition of the participant for at least two years.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| At Home tDCS Users | Experimental | Device: Transcranial Direct Current StimulationParticipants conducting tDCS at home |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 50 to 100 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Diagnosis of Alzheimer's Disease or other form of dementia (e.g., Primary Progressive Aphasia)
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Metal in the head or other factors that would make stimulation unsafe
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Transcranial Direct Current StimulationAlso: tDCSBrain Stimulation Devices attached to scalp | Device | At Home tDCS Users |
Primary outcome
General Cognition
Time frame: two years
Improved General Cognition as defined by scores on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment. Test has scores from 0-30, where higher scores reflect better cognition. In this study, an increased score would reflect an improvement in general cognition, which we would interpret as associated with the application of transcranial direct current stimulation
Results and safety
Results are not available in the source record.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 13 Aug 2024.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Carlos Roncero, PhD principal investigator
Baycrest
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in people with Alzheimer Disease, run by Lady Davis Institute at 1 site in Canada.
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 1 inclusion and 1 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: status not confirmed, as of the sponsor's last update on 13 Aug 2024. 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 Canada. 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. 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?
Results are not available in the source record.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Shelley Solomon (514-340-8222 ext. 25129, shelley.solomon2@mail.mcgill.ca), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
General Cognition (time frame: two years). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 13 Aug 2024.