Can a home device slow dementia? pilot trial tests pulsed electromagnetic therapy
NCT ID NCT06862557
First seen Sep 17, 2026 · Last updated Sep 18, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
Researchers are testing whether a home-use pulsed electromagnetic therapy device can slow cognitive decline in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, or vascular dementia. About 48 participants will use the device three times a day for 15 minutes over 120 days, then be followed for nine months. The main measure is a standard cognitive test called ADAS-Cog, which scores dementia symptom severity.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- a pulsed electromagnetic therapy device called ECHS AD
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could offer a non-drug, at-home option to slow cognitive decline in dementia. It could also point researchers toward electromagnetic therapy as a new area of study.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, open-label pilot study with no placebo group, so any improvements could reflect expectation or natural variation rather than the device. The approach may not translate into meaningful benefit, and the trial is not designed to prove effectiveness.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 48 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Apr 2025
- Expected to finish
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Sep 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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50 to 100 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1\. Age ≥ 50 years 2.2. Patients diagnosed with mild to moderate AD/ADRD including Alzheimer's disease, Lewy body dementia, and Vascular dementia - defined as a global CDR of 0.5 or 1 at baseline. 3\. At least an eighth grade of educational achievement 4. If female, post-menopausal. 5. MMSE score between 16 and 26 (inclusive) 6. Capable of providing consent or having a surrogate (e.g., spouse, family member) capable of providing consent if participant lacks consent capacity 7. Able and willing to comply with the protocol 8. If the participant is receiving a cholinesterase inhibitor and/or memantine, such medication has been prescribed for at least 3 months prior to screening and the dose is stable for at least 60 days prior to screening (that dose needs to be maintained throughout the period of this study) 10. Physical clearance for study participation as evaluated by the clinician Exclusion Criteria: 1. The patient lacks capacity to consent to study participation and no surrogate is available to provide consent 2. The patient does not have a study partner who would be available for interview 3. History of epileptic seizures or epilepsy 4. Has Frontotemporal Dementia 5. Currently taking medication that lowers the seizure threshold, excluding blood thinners 6. Is currently taking anti-amyloid monoclonal antibodies (past treatment is allowed if termination of treatment occurred at least 3 months prior to the baseline visit). 7. Presence of depression, bipolar disorder, a psychotic disorder, or any other neurological or psychiatric condition (whether now or in the past), which the Investigator finds as interfering with the study 8. Severe agitation that would interfere with study procedures 9. Alcoholism or substance use disorder as defined by Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) within last 5 years (addicted more than one year and or in remission less than 3 years) or severe sleep deprivation 10. Major surgery (defined as any major abdominal, vascular or thoracic surgery requiring general anesthesia and resulting in a period of \>1 week hospitalization) within 4 weeks 11. Head anatomy that interferes with the fit of the treatment device 12. Participation in another clinical trial within the previous 30 days 13. Metal implants in the head, (i.e., cochlear implants, implanted brain stimulators and neurostimulators, aneurysm clips) with the exception of metal implants in mouth 14. Criteria to exclude participants from the blood draw study: Any condition that may significantly increase risks associated with blood draws
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
How to take part
Only the study team decides who joins. These are the ways to reach them.
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The places running it
1 site. The list below names each one and where it is.
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The official record
ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.
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A doctor treating you
A doctor who knows your case can contact a study site on your behalf, and can tell you whether this study is worth pursuing at all.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Miami
RECRUITINGBoca Raton, Florida, 334233, United States
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