The Clinical Trial will systematically examine the feasibility of remote, caregiver-led tACS for older adults with memory deficits and evaluate whether repeated tACS leads to sustained improvement of neuronal activity and memory functions.
The proposed investigation will systematically examine the feasibility and efficacy of remote, caregiver-led tACS for older adults with memory decline. This study will provide data to support the safety and effectiveness of home-based tACS in this population and will lead to future research to increase access to tACS as a part of memory decline prevention and treatment for older adults.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE
Enrollment
40
tACS will be delivered by a battery-driven current stimulator Starstim SS32 (Neuroelectrics) through surface Ag/AgCl electrodes placed into holes of a neoprene cap corresponding to the international 10/20 EEG system. Gel (Parker Lab, Inc.) will be applied to optimize signal conductivity and lower impedance. Two tACS (active and sham) conditions will be applied in randomized order. 40 Hz tACS will be delivered to different brain areas of the memory network. We will employ a multielectrode montage based on electric field modeling using the individual MRI to optimally reach the target areas. The maximum injected current per electrode is 2mA and the overall maximal current is 4mA to generate an average electric field of 0.25 V/m.
EEG will be recorded with a 257-channel EEG system. An EEG net is applied at once on the head with evenly spaced sensors that provide full scalp coverage, including the cheek. The net contains Ag/Ag-Cl electrodes that are interconnected by thin rubber bands and contain small sponges soaked with saline water that touch the participant's scalp surface directly. Net application takes about 10 min to derive to impedances of \<30 kOhms. EEG is recorded with 1 kHz and band-pass filtered between DC-200 Hz. Vertex electrode Cz is used as an acquisition reference.
University of Geneva, Campus Biotech
Geneva, Switzerland
RECRUITINGcognitive status measured by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
The primary objective is to characterize cognitive status at baseline and after 4 weeks of the home-based stimulation intervention.
Time frame: baseline, after 4 weeks
modulation of gamma activity assessed with high-density EEG
The secondary objective is to assess with hdEEG any changes in gamma power at baseline and after 4 weeks of the home-based stimulation intervention.
Time frame: baseline, after 4 weeks,
This platform is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional.
Clinical Evaluation and Cognitive Assessment - to characterize the level of dementia and changes in cognitive status measured at the baseline and after 4 weeks of gamma/sham tACS intervention, and in a follow-up 3 months after the stimulation using MoCA.