The Effects of Noninvasive Brain Stimulation on Physical and Mental Functioning in Older Adults

NCT02436915 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 19

Last updated 2019-06-05

Study results available
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Summary

The objective of this study is to determine whether augmentation of prefrontal brain excitability using noninvasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) lessens the severity of the symptom triad associated with cerebral microvascular disease (CMD); that is, slow gait, cognitive dysfunction and depressive symptoms. Investigators will complete this objective by conducting a pilot, double-blinded randomized controlled trial of a 10-day intervention of real versus sham tDCS in 40 subjects.

Conditions

  • Aging

Interventions

OTHER

Real tDCS

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) enables noninvasive, selective and sustained modulation of cortical activation. tDCS works by sending low-level currents between two or more scalp electrodes, which alters brain polarity and thus, perfusion and cortical excitability.

OTHER

Sham tDCS

For sham tDCS, current will only be applied for the first 60 seconds of each 20 minute session. This is a reliable sham control as sensations arising from tDCS diminish considerably after the first minute of stimulation.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
65 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2015-06-30
Primary Completion
2016-10-31
Completion
2016-12-31

Countries

  • United States

Study Locations

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Entities

Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT02436915 on ClinicalTrials.gov