Pick Disease of the Brain Clinical Trial
Official title:
Direct Current Brain Polarization in Frontotemporal Dementia
This pilot study will evaluate the effect of direct current (DC) electrical polarization of
the brain on language, memory, reaction time, and mood in six patients with frontotemporal
dementia (Pick's disease). There is no effective treatment available for cognitive
impairment in patients with this condition. DC polarization sends a very weak current
between two sponge pads placed on the head. In a previous study in healthy volunteers, DC
polarization of the left prefrontal area of the brain increased verbal fluency, memory and
attention, and motor reaction time in the study subjects.
Patients between 35 and 75 years of age with frontotemporal dementia who have been referred
to NINDS's Cognitive Neuroscience Section for an existing protocol will be offered
participation in this study. Candidates will be screened with a neurological examination to
confirm the diagnosis of frontotemporal dementia.
Participants receive 40 minutes of DC polarization or sham polarization in each of two
separate sessions. (No current is applied in the sham treatment). During the polarization,
the patient rests quietly. Sponge pads that have been soaked in water are put on the left
side of the head and above the right eye, and are held in place with elastic netting. Before
the polarization and after about 20 minutes of polarization, patients undergo the following
tests:
- Language: Patients must say as many words beginning with certain letters as they can in
90 seconds.
- Memory: Patients must remember a letter on a computer screen, and when the letter
appears again, press the same letter on the keyboard.
- Reaction time: Patients place pegs on a pegboard.
- Mood: Patients place a mark on a line ranking how they feel.
Status | Completed |
Enrollment | 6 |
Est. completion date | August 2005 |
Est. primary completion date | |
Accepts healthy volunteers | No |
Gender | Both |
Age group | N/A and older |
Eligibility |
INCLUSION CRITERIA: -Six patients referred to the Cognitive Neuroscience Section, NINDS, with a clinical diagnosis of FTD confirmed here, will be selected to participate in the study. EXCLUSION CRITERIA: - Greater than 75 years of age. - Presence of metal in the head other than dental hardware. - Broken skin in the area of the stimulating electrodes. - Any behavioral disorder that makes testing impossible. - Children are excluded, as FTD is not a childhood illness. |
Endpoint Classification: Safety Study, Primary Purpose: Treatment
Country | Name | City | State |
---|---|---|---|
United States | National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) | Bethesda | Maryland |
Lead Sponsor | Collaborator |
---|---|
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS) |
United States,
Agnew WF, McCreery DB. Considerations for safety in the use of extracranial stimulation for motor evoked potentials. Neurosurgery. 1987 Jan;20(1):143-7. — View Citation
Antal A, Kincses TZ, Nitsche MA, Paulus W. Manipulation of phosphene thresholds by transcranial direct current stimulation in man. Exp Brain Res. 2003 Jun;150(3):375-8. Epub 2003 Apr 16. — View Citation
Baudewig J, Nitsche MA, Paulus W, Frahm J. Regional modulation of BOLD MRI responses to human sensorimotor activation by transcranial direct current stimulation. Magn Reson Med. 2001 Feb;45(2):196-201. — View Citation
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