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Evaluating the Effects of tDCS on Sleep and Cognition in Healthy Older Adults

NCT06938672 · Status: COMPLETED · Phase: NA · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 12

Last updated 2026-05-07

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The goal of this interventional study is to learn if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a gentle, cost-effective and non-invasive brain stimulation technique can improve sleep brain activity during an afternoon nap. Since these sleep brain patterns are linked to better memory, attention, and thinking skills, this study aims to find out if improving sleep in a nap can also enhance these cognitive skills in healthy older adults (aged 60+).

The main questions it aims to answer are:

* Can a short (20-minute) tDCS session before a nap improve sleep patterns during the nap?
* Since these sleep patterns are linked to memory and attention, can tDCS also improve thinking skills after the nap?
* Are two tDCS session more effective than one for improving nap sleep and thinking skills?

Participants will:

• Be required to come to the university for testing over four days.

During each session they will:

* Complete computer based-tasks to assess memory and thinking.
* Receive a 20-minute session of either real (active) or fake (placebo) tDCS.
* Take a short, monitored nap while researchers measure sleep activity (using polysomnography - a gold-standard, non-invasive sleep monitoring tool).
* Complete an easy-to-use sleep test at home on the nights after the naps.

* Wear a lightweight watch (called an Actiwatch) throughout the study period to track sleep and movement.
* Complete daily sleep diaries.

By taking part, participants will help researchers understand whether tDCS can improve sleep during naps and, in turn, support memory and thinking skills. This research could lead to better treatments for sleep problems, help protect brain health, and reduce the risk of dementia as people age. The brain stimulation in this study may also help improve their sleep and cognition.

Conditions

  • Sleep
  • Cognition
  • Healthy Aging

Interventions

DEVICE

Placebo Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Placebo Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): Participants will experience a 20-minute session of placebo tDCS on two consecutive days.

DEVICE

Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Participants will experience a 20-minute session of active tDCS (1.2 mA) on two consecutive days.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Northumbria University

    lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

  • Rosie H Musgrave, BA Hons, RPSGT · Northumbria University

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
60 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2025-07-01
Primary Completion
2026-05-06
Completion
2026-05-06

Countries

  • United Kingdom

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 NCT06938672 on ClinicalTrials.gov