Brain stimulation trial hopes to sharpen fading memory
NCT ID NCT06783283
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tests a gentle, non-invasive brain stimulation technique called tACS to see if it can improve working memory in people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Twenty volunteers aged 60 and older will receive daily stimulation sessions for two weeks. The main goal is to see if people will join and stick with the treatment, with memory changes measured as a secondary outcome.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS)
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a non-invasive, drug-free way to boost memory in people with mild cognitive impairment.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early feasibility study with only 20 participants. It primarily measures recruitment and retention, not yet whether the stimulation actually improves memory. The effect may be small or absent.
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 20 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jan 2025
- 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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60 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.
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 60 years or above, 2. Diagnosis of MCI due to AD using the core clinical criteria by the National Institute on Aging and Alzheimer's Association for MCI participants (NIA-AA) and ascertained by a study investigator. The following checklist will be used to ascertain the MCI diagnosis: 1. Cognitive concern reflecting a change in cognition reported by patient or informant or clinician (i.e., historical or observed evidence of decline over time) 2. Not demented ascertained using the study investigator opinion. 3. No vascular, traumatic, or medical causes of cognitive decline ascertained using the study investigator opinion. 4. Evidence of longitudinal decline in cognition, when feasible, and ascertained using the study investigator opinion. 3. Objective evidence of single or multi domain MCI, where single domain MCI refers to deficits using neuropsychology (NP) battery on only one of the cognitive domains (Speed of Processing; Working Memory; Executive Functioning; Verbal Memory; Visual Memory; Language) and multi domain MCI refers to deficits in more than one of these domains. To determine impairment in one or more cognitive domain, after the NP battery is administered and double scored, a consensus meeting will be held with the Research Analyst/Fellow, the study Principal Investigator and the study Neuropsychologist during which eligibility will be discussed. The meeting attendees will take into consideration the participant's education, parental education, pre-morbid IQ, physician's assessment and NP scores to determine if the participant has impairment in one or more cognitive domain. 4. Willingness to provide informed consent, 5. Ability to read and communicate in English (with corrected vision and hearing, if needed) Exclusion Criteria: 1. Current use of an acetylcholine esterase inhibitor or memantine ascertained via participant's report, Medication List, or Electronic Medical Record (EMR). 2. Major Depressive Disorder with active symptoms in the last 3 months ascertained using the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), or Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5 (SCID), or EMR. 3. A lifetime diagnosis of bipolar disorder; intellectual disability; or a psychotic disorder ascertained using the MINI or SCID, or EMR. 4. Substance use disorder active in the last 3 months ascertained using the MINI or SCID, or EMR. 5. Any other DSM-5 diagnosis ascertained using the MINI or SCID, or EMR, that may be associated with prefrontal cortical dysfunction as ascertained using a study investigator opinion. 6. Current anticonvulsant use due to its impact on brain stimulation induced activity and ascertained using a Medication List or EMR. An exception will be made if they are taking gabapentin or pregabalin AND if the dose had been stable for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry AND if prescribed for chronic pain. 7. Current benzodiazepine use of more than what is equivalent to lorazepam 2 mg/day as ascertained using a Medication List. This is due to their known pro-GABAergic activity and the suppressive effect of GABAergic agents on cortical plasticity 8. Any contraindication to MRI or contraindication to tACS (e.g., cardiac pacemaker, acoustic device, history of seizures) ascertained using the tACS Safety Screen (tSS)
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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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Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
RECRUITINGToronto, Ontario, M6J 1H4, Canada
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