Zapping the brain to calm dementia agitation

NCT ID NCT03846492

First seen Apr 14, 2026 · Last updated Jun 24, 2026 · Updated 7 times

Summary

This study explores how non-invasive brain stimulation can help understand and treat agitation in people with Alzheimer's and mixed dementia. Researchers will use transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and electroencephalography (EEG) to study brain activity, and test whether transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can reduce agitation. The study involves 90 participants, including those with and without agitation, plus healthy volunteers.

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This is a summary of the original study . Summaries may miss details or leave out important information. Before applying or accepting participation, make sure you have read and understood the full study. Curemydisease.com takes no responsibility whatsoever for anything missed, misunderstood, or acted upon as a result of our summary — we know it does not capture everything.

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Contacts and locations

Locations

  • Centre for Addiction and Mental Health

    Toronto, Ontario, M6J 1H4, Canada

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance

transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

What this could lead to

If successful, this could point toward a safe, non-drug treatment for agitation in dementia, improving quality of life for patients and caregivers.

What could go wrong

This is an early-stage study focused on understanding brain mechanisms, not a proven treatment. The sample is small (90 people), and results may not apply to all dementia patients.

Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Aberrant Motor Behavior in Dementia Alzheimer disease dementia Mixed Dementias psychiatric disorder Psychomotor Agitation

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.