Could a zapping cap help Alzheimer's patients remember?
NCT ID NCT04122001
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jul 16, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests whether a safe, painless brain stimulation technique called tDCS can improve verbal learning in people with Alzheimer's disease. Researchers will compare active stimulation to a sham (fake) version in 90 participants with typical or language-based Alzheimer's. The goal is to see if tDCS, combined with word-list practice, helps people recall words better and understand how the brain changes.
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) - a gentle electrical current applied to the scalp
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a non-drug, at-home treatment to help people with Alzheimer's remember words and slow memory decline.
- What could go wrong
- This is an early-stage study with only 90 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The improvement in memory may be small or temporary, and not all types of Alzheimer's may benefit.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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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.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland, 21287, United States
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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