This study will evaluate the effects of a form of non-invasive brain stimulation on brain functioning and memory in cognitively intact older adults (healthy controls, HC) and in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
The goal of this study is to learn important information about the effects of weak electrical stimulation (known as high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation or HD-tDCS) on brain functioning in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The findings will help determine how stimulation affects brain's activity and metabolism (in particular, the neurotransmitter glutamate). Ultimately, this information may help develop new treatments for those with Alzheimer's disease. The study will use different forms of brain imaging to see whether stimulation changes how the brain responds during a memory task. Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be used. The study also uses cognitive tests and questionnaires.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
80
Participants will receive sham (placebo) HD-tDCS for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
Participants will receive HD-tDCS at 3 milliAmp for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
University of Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States
RECRUITINGChanges in glutamate concentration (fMRS)
Analyses via fMRS using units of concentration
Time frame: average on 1 week
Changes in brain activation (fMRI)
Analyses via fMRI using units of brain activation
Time frame: average of 1 week
Changes in memory performance
Analyses of memory performance indexed as percent accuracy
Time frame: average of 1 week
Changes in brain activation (fNIRS)
Analyses via fNIRS using units of brain activation
Time frame: immediate, concurrent with tDCS
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