Anomia (Word-retrieval Impairment) Clinical Trial
Official title:
Chronic Aphasia - Improved by Intensive Training and Electrical Brain
The purpose of this study is to determine if non-invasive electrical brain stimulation can enhance the out of intensive language therapy in chronic aphasia
Stroke is the leading cause of death and disability worldwide. Given the increasing average
lifespan worldwide, the incidence and prevalence of patients with stroke will dramatically
increase in the future. One of the most frequent and devastating conditions after stroke is
aphasia, which affects language production and comprehension. High-frequent intensive
speech-and-language therapy is currently the treatment of choice in chronic aphasia.
However, despite its general effectiveness, treatment effect sizes are only low to moderate.
Thus, there is a pressing need to explore novel training-adjuvant therapies to enhance
treatment efficacy. Moreover, very little is known about the neurobiology of
treatment-induced recovery in chronic aphasia. This is the prerequisite to improve existing
and/or develop new treatment paradigms.
Thus, in the present project we aim to assess whether the outcome of intensive language
training can be enhanced by adjuvant non-invasive brain stimulation. We will be using anodal
transcranial direct current stimulation (atDCS) that has previously been shown to enhance
(a) language and motor learning in healthy subjects and (b) motor recovery in stroke
patients. Specifically, in a longitudinal group comparison design, two matched groups of
patients with chronic anomia will receive two weeks of intensive language training with or
without atDCS. Treatment effects will be assessed immediately after the two week
intervention period and several months after the end of the training. We will also use
functional and structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to elucidate language network
changes in the two groups.
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Allocation: Randomized, Endpoint Classification: Efficacy Study, Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment, Masking: Double Blind (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor), Primary Purpose: Treatment