Double blinded, sham-controlled, randomized trial on repeated transcranial alternating current brain stimulation (tACS) in neurodegenerative diseases. The investigators will evaluate whether a 4-times daily repeated stimulation with gamma tACS on the posterior parietal cortex can improve symptoms in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia with Lewy Bodies, Alzheimer's disease, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus and Frontotemporal dementia.
Double blinded, sham-controlled, randomized trial on repeated transcranial alternating current brain stimulation (tACS) in neurodegenerative diseases. The investigators will evaluate whether a 4-times daily repeated stimulation with gamma tACS on the posterior parietal cortex can improve symptoms in patients with neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia with Lewy Bodies, Alzheimer's disease, idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus and Frontotemporal dementia.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Enrollment
200
Single session of gamma tACS (40 Hz) over the superior parietal cortex
Kuopio University Hospital
Kuopio, Finland
RECRUITINGChanges in Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test score
Participants are given a list of 15 unrelated words repeated over five different trials and are asked to repeat. Another list of 15 unrelated words are given and the patient must again repeat the original list of 15 words and then again after 30 minutes. The examiner reads aloud 15 unrelated words and the participant is asked to recall the words after each of the five trials. After a 15 minute delay, the participant is asked again to recall the words. The score ranges from 0 (worst performance) to 75 (best performance).
Time frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention), immediately after the first intervention, immediately after the 4th intervention, 4 weeks after the last intervention
Changes in Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, recognition
Participants are given a list of 15 unrelated words repeated over five different trials and are asked to repeat. After a 15 minute delay, the participant is asked to recognise the original 15 words intermixed with 31 distractor words. The score of the recognition part ranges from 0 (worst performance) to 46 (best performance).
Time frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention), immediately after the first intervention, immediately after the 4th intervention, 4 weeks after the last intervention
Changes in orientation to time and place (MMSE questions 1-10)
10 questions about the orientation. The score ranges from 0 (worse performance) to 10 (best performance).
Time frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention), immediately after the last intervention, 4 weeks after the last intervention
Changes in Trail Making A & B tests
TMT A \& B tests. Time to perform set is recorded.
Time frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention), immediately after the 4th intervention, 4 weeks after the last intervention
Changes in INECO Frontal Screening test
Test battery assessing frontal lobe functions. The score ranges from 0 (worse performance) to 30 (best performance)
Time frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention), immediately after the 4th intervention, 4 weeks after the last intervention
Changes in phonemic fluency
Person is requested to provide as many words as possible starting with certain letter. The score is the sum of all acceptable words produced in one minute.
Time frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention), immediately after the first intervention, immediately after the 4th intervention, 4 weeks after the last intervention
Change in SAI measurements
By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of gamma tACS on short latency afferent inhibition (SAI), which is a marker of cholinergic neurotransmission.
Time frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention), immediately after the last intervention
Change in SICI measurements
By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of gamma tACS on short interval intracortical inhibition (SICI), which is a marker of gabaergic neurotransmission.
Time frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention), immediately after the last intervention
Change in ICF measurements
By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of gamma tACS on intracortical facilitation (ICF), which is a marker of glutamatergic neurotransmission.
Time frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention), immediately after the last intervention
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