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Using Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation to Improve Executive Function in 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome

NCT05664412 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 40

Last updated 2025-12-02

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The purpose of this project is to explore the effects of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) in children, adolescents and young adults with a 22q11.2 microdeletion. The main aim of the present research project is to investigate the effects of repeated, individually tuned high-density (HD) tACS on cognition (i.e., WM performance) and related neuroimaging markers in carriers of the 22q11DS. As cognitive deficits, most notably WM impairment, are among the earliest signs of psychotic disorders, interventions during adolescence aimed at reducing cognitive decline in at-risk individuals may prove effective in delaying or even preventing the later emergence of psychotic symptoms.

Conditions

  • 22Q11 Deletion Syndrome
  • tACS

Interventions

DEVICE

at-home tACS using Starstim-Home tES

We will use transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and temporal cortex by adopting a high-density (HD) montage with 3 electrodes to target the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and 3 electrodes to target the temporal cortex. To select individualized parameters for stimulation, we will first acquire and analyse structural MRI (comprising T1 and T2-weighted sequences) and EEG data during a working memory task. We planned one session of HD-tACS per day for 5 consecutive days every week over four weeks; each session will last 21 minutes. All sessions will occur during cognitive training (i.e., execution of a working memory task).

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Stephan Eliez

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
14 Years
Max Age
25 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2023-10-20
Primary Completion
2026-12-31
Completion
2026-12-31

Countries

  • Switzerland

Study Locations

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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 NCT05664412 on ClinicalTrials.gov