Aphasia Clinical Trial
— TRANSLATESOfficial title:
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Language Recovery After Stroke: a Pilot Study
Aphasia is an acquired language disorder. Stroke is the most common cause of aphasia, which affects 30% of stroke survivors. Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) can help people with aphasia but it may not be provided at the required intensity. Access to therapy is often limited after the first few months following stroke. People with aphasia can improve with therapy many years after stroke but these benefits have not been found to translate to day to day conversation. Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation (tVNS) is a non-invasive technique which involves stimulating a branch of the vagus nerve through the skin of the ear, using a small earpiece. This technique is safe and has been approved for use in headache. There is promising evidence that tVNS can improve motor rehabilitation in chronic stroke. This technique may be helpful in aiding language recovery in individuals with chronic aphasia. The current pilot study will primarily assess the feasibility, safety and tolerability of self-directed tVNS paired with computer-based SLT, in individuals with chronic stroke-related aphasia. Secondly, the study aims to explore the effect of the intervention on word-finding ability and to explore potential mechanisms of action. Participants will be randomly allocated to an active or sham tVNS group. Participants will be asked to use the stimulation device at home for 6 weeks, whilst completing computer-based SLT. To date, there are no published studies exploring the use of tVNS in aphasia. An indication of study feasibility may support the development of a larger RCT to explore treatment efficacy.
Status | Not yet recruiting |
Enrollment | 36 |
Est. completion date | January 1, 2027 |
Est. primary completion date | April 29, 2026 |
Accepts healthy volunteers | No |
Gender | All |
Age group | 18 Years and older |
Eligibility | Inclusion Criteria: - Supratentorial stroke at least 6 months prior to recruitment - Aphasia (with word finding difficulties) - Ability to engage in the programme (support can be provided for cognitive or receptive difficulties) - Sufficient vision to engage in the computer-based SLT programme Exclusion Criteria: - Implanted devices (e.g. pacemaker) or implanted stimulation devices - Currently receiving a programme of Speech and Language Therapy (SLT) - Damage to the vagus nerve - Symptomatic bradycardia/ 2nd or 3rd heart block - Pregnancy - Unable to speak English - Severe deafness (despite using hear aids) |
Country | Name | City | State |
---|---|---|---|
United Kingdom | University of Sheffield | Sheffield |
Lead Sponsor | Collaborator |
---|---|
Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust |
United Kingdom,
Palmer R, Dimairo M, Cooper C, Enderby P, Brady M, Bowen A, Latimer N, Julious S, Cross E, Alshreef A, Harrison M, Bradley E, Witts H, Chater T. Self-managed, computerised speech and language therapy for patients with chronic aphasia post-stroke compared with usual care or attention control (Big CACTUS): a multicentre, single-blinded, randomised controlled trial. Lancet Neurol. 2019 Sep;18(9):821-833. doi: 10.1016/S1474-4422(19)30192-9. — View Citation
Redgrave J, Day D, Leung H, Laud PJ, Ali A, Lindert R, Majid A. Safety and tolerability of Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve stimulation in humans; a systematic review. Brain Stimul. 2018 Nov-Dec;11(6):1225-1238. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2018.08.010. Epub 2018 Aug 23. — View Citation
Type | Measure | Description | Time frame | Safety issue |
---|---|---|---|---|
Primary | Safety: The number of adverse events reported that are associated with tVNS | The safety of using tVNS in the aphasia population will be measured through the recording of adverse events. The number of Serious Adverse Events (SAE's) and Unexpected Adverse Events (UAE's) during the intervention will be reported. | 6 weeks | |
Primary | Tolerability: The number and intensity of symptoms reported | The reporting of symptoms associated with tVNS will be recorded and the severity of each symptom on a 1-5 scale (1= mild; 5 = severe). | 6 weeks | |
Primary | Feasibility of the study design | >80% of recruited participants completing the intervention and primary outcome measures at 6 weeks | 24 months | |
Secondary | Picture Naming (personally relevant) | The number of pictures that are accurately named at each time point, out of a maximum of 30. Pictures will be personally relevant and selected by the participant prior to the start of the intervention. These pictures will be trained during the computer-based SLT intervention. Naming will be assessed at baseline, end of treatment (6 weeks) and at follow-up (12 weeks) using the same picture set. | Week 0; Week 6; Week 12 | |
Secondary | The Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT): Naming Objects | The number of pictures that are accurately named at each time point, out of a maximum of 48. A standardized set of 24 pictures will be used from The Comprehensive Aphasia Test (CAT) Naming Objects subtest. This will assess the ability to name untrained words. This task will be completed at baseline, end of treatment (6 weeks) and at follow-up (12 weeks). | Week 0; Week 6; Week 12 | |
Secondary | Conversation: The number of trained words used in conversation | A 10 minute scripted conversation will be conducted for each participant, surrounding topics of personal relevance, to prompt the use of trained words in a conversational context. The number of times a word is used will be recorded | Week 0; Week 6; Week 12 | |
Secondary | Brain Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) (ng/ml) | Blood samples will be taken at baseline and end of treatment (6 weeks) to measure BDNF levels in serum | Week 0; Week 6 | |
Secondary | Inflammatory markers (pg/ml) | Blood samples will be taken at baseline and end of treatment (6 weeks) to measure inflammatory markers: IL-1B, IL-6, IL-10 and TNFa (pg/ml). | Week 0; Week 6 | |
Secondary | Heart Rate Variability (HRV) | Heart rate variability will be measured in 5 minute phases before, during and following electrical stimulation. The Standard deviation of the RR intervals (SDNN) will be recorded (ms). | Week 0; Week 6 | |
Secondary | Pupillary Reactivity | Pupillary response to light stimulus. Maximum and minimum diameters (mm) | Week 0; Week 6 |
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