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Spinal Networks of Balance Learning and Retention in Older Adults

NCT06517043 · Status: RECRUITING · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 30

Last updated 2025-05-13

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Age-related balance and walking issues increase fall risks, leading to injuries, higher healthcare costs, reduced quality of life, and increased morbidity/mortality rates. Preserving functional ability is a crucial public health priority, with the potential to reduce healthcare costs and enhance older adults' quality of life. Declines in balance and walking ability threaten independence. These declines are attributed to spinal network impairments and may be mitigated by targeted interventions aimed at addressing age-related spinal cord impairment to enhance functional outcomes. However, there is a lack of research into how the aging spinal cord affects balance/walking. In older adults, the spinal cord is less excitable, conducts signals more slowly, and is subject to neural noise. Intervening on age-related impairment of the spinal cord to improve balance/walking ability is a very promising but untapped area of research. A therapeutic approach that combines dynamic balance training with non-invasive electrical spinal stimulation may be effective in preserving functional abilities. This study tests whether electrical stimulation of the spinal lumbar regions is more beneficial than sham stimulation.

Conditions

  • Aging

Interventions

BEHAVIORAL

Balance Training

Complex balance task involving static and dynamic weight shifting and coordinated stepping

DEVICE

Spinal Active tsDCS

Active tsDCS over lumbar regions

DEVICE

Spinal Sham tsDCS

Sham tsDCS over lumbar regions

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Institute on Aging (NIA)

    collaborator NIH

  • University of Florida

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Model
PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age
65 Years
Max Age
95 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-01-22
Primary Completion
2026-08-31
Completion
2026-08-31
FDA Device
Yes

Countries

  • United States

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 NCT06517043 on ClinicalTrials.gov