Zapping the brain to boost Alzheimer's Patients' mobility and memory
NCT ID NCT04289402
First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This pilot study tested whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called tDCS could improve cognitive and motor functions in older adults with mild Alzheimer's disease living in supportive housing. Eleven participants received either real or sham stimulation over 10 sessions. The goal was to see if the treatment was feasible and could enhance thinking, walking, and balance.
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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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11 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2020
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2027
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
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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65 years and older
- 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.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women aged 65 and older living within supportive housing facilities * Mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) defined by the combination of 1) at least mild cognitive impairment defined as a modified TICS score of ≤ 34, 2) informant-report of Instrumental Activities of Daily Living impairment as defined as a score of ≥ 6 on the NACC Functional Activities Questionnaire, and 3) a Clinical Dementia Rating score of 1. Exclusion Criteria: * Inability to secure informant participation * Unwillingness to cooperate or participate in the study protocol * An inability to ambulate without the assistance of another person (canes or walkers allowed) * A clinical history of stroke, Parkinson's disease or parkinsonian symptoms, multiple sclerosis, normal pressure hydrocephalus, or other neurological conditions outside of mild AD. * Any report of severe lower-extremity arthritis or physician-diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy * Use of antipsychotics, anti-seizure, benzodiazepines, or other neuroactive medications * Severe depression defined by a Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale score greater than 16 * Any report of physician-diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or other psychiatric illness * Contraindications to MRI or tDCS, including reported seizure within the past two years, use of neuropsychological-active drugs, the risk of metal objects anywhere in the body, self-reported presence of specific implanted medical devices (e.g., deep brain stimulator, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, pacemakers, etc.), or the presence of any active dermatological condition, such as eczema, on the scalp
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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
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Hebrew Rehabilitation Center
Roslindale, Massachusetts, 02131, United States
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