Cognitive Outcomes of Brain Stimulation As a Later-in-Life Treatment

Dementia Clinical Trial

— COBALT  

Official title:

Cognitive Outcomes of Brain Stimulation As a Later-in-Life Treatment

Clinical Trial Details — Status: Recruiting

Administrative data

• NCT number: NCT05564715
• Other study ID #: STU-2022-0799
• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Start date: May 1, 2023
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2028

Study information

• Verified date: August 2023
• Source: University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center
• Contact: n/a
• Is FDA regulated: No
• Study type: Interventional

Clinical Trial Summary

This is a pilot study being done to attempt to improve episodic memory problems in persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or dementia. The pre-supplemental motor area (preSMA) and dorsal anterior cingulate cortex (dACC) have been shown to play a role in episodic memory and language retrieval. Prior studies have suggested that neurostimulation targeting this region can improve episodic memory and word recall. The purpose of this study is to examine the efficacy of high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) to the preSMA/dACC region and its influence on word retrieval and other cognitive functions in patients with MCI or dementia. Entraining the preSMA/dACC circuit with 10 sessions of HD-tDCS will allow us to study whether neurostimulation may be an effective treatment.

Description:

The research objective of this study is to examine the efficacy of HD-tDCS to the preSMa/DaCC region and its influence on word retrieval and other cognitive functions in patients with MCI or dementia after 10 sessions of HD-tDCS. There will be two treatment arms: active HD-tDCS (1 mA) and a sham group. For Phase 1, participants will receive 10 sessions of active stimulation (1 mA anodal HD-tDCS targeting preSMA/dACC for 20 min) or sham across 2 weeks. Word retrieval and other cognitive tasks will be completed at baseline, immediate follow-up after session 10, and a 2-month follow-up. For Phase 2, participants randomized into the sham group will have the opportunity to return after 2 months and receive the active treatment while being unblinded to their treatment condition. Following 10 active treatment sessions, word retrieval and other cognitive tasks will again be completed immediately following the last HD-tDCS session and then a 2-month follow-up.

Recruitment information / eligibility

• Status: Recruiting
• Enrollment: 9999
• Est. completion date: September 30, 2028
• Est. primary completion date: September 30, 2026
• Accepts healthy volunteers: No
• Gender: All
• Age group: 55 Years and older

Eligibility

Inclusion Criteria:

Active diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment or dementia, Female and male subjects, All races/ethnicities, Age 55 years and older, Fluent in English,

Exclusion Criteria:

Lifetime history of major neurologic syndromes (e.g., epilepsy, brain tumor, etc), Substance use disorder within the past year, Has metal fragments in skull/head, Current vision or hearing impairment that interferes with testing, Current medication use known to alter HD-tDCS reactivity

Related Conditions & MeSH terms

• Cognitive Dysfunction
• Dementia
• Mild Cognitive Impairment

Intervention

Device:
• NeuroElectric StarStim
10 sessions of active stimulation (1 mA anodal HD-tDCS targeting preSMA/dACC for 20 min) across 2 weeks
• Sham Treatment
Sham stimulation for 10 sessions over 2 weeks

Locations

Country	Name	City	State
United States	University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center	Dallas	Texas

Sponsors (2)

Lead Sponsor	Collaborator
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center	TEXAS ALZHEIMER'S RESEARCH & CARE CONSORTIUM

Country where clinical trial is conducted

United States, 

Outcome

Type	Measure	Description	Time frame	Safety issue
Primary	Changes in Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test Score	The RAVLT is a verbal episodic memory test that is sensitive to mesial and lateral verbal episodic memory circuit dysfunction. The primary outcome measure for this task is the total number of items immediately recalled during the learning trials and after the 20 minute delayed recall trial. Changes in scores from baseline to testing immediately following the completion of the condition will be examined as well as from baseline to 8 months post-treatment.; RAVLT : Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, 0-15 score for each trial, higher scores reflect better performance	Pre-treatment, post-treatment (an average of 2 weeks), and 8 weeks post-treatment
Secondary	Changes in Delis Kaplan Executive Function System (DKEFS) Verbal Fluency Test	The DKEFS Verbal Fluency Test is a measure of word retrieval. The task has 3 conditions each lasting 60 seconds, requiring the subject to name words by phonemes, semantic categories, and then switching between two semantic categories. The outcome measure for this task is the total words named for each of the 3 conditions. Changes in scores from baseline to testing immediately following the completion of each condition will be examined as well as from baseline to 8 months post-treatment.; DKEFS: Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Verbal Fluency Test, 0-no upper limit for each trial, higher scores reflect better performance	Pre-treatment, post-treatment (an average of 2 weeks), and 8 weeks post-treatment
Secondary	Changes in Boston Naming Test Short Form	The Boston Naming Test Short Form has 30 pictures of common objects that upon seeing each picture, individuals need to name the object as soon as one can. The outcome measure for this task is the number of correctly named items. Changes in scores from baseline to testing immediately following the completion of condition will be examined as well as from baseline to 8 months post-treatment.; BNT: Boston Naming Test - Short Form, 0-30 score, higher scores reflect better performance	Pre-treatment, post-treatment (an average of 2 weeks), and 8 weeks post-treatment