Could a gentle zapping of the brain ease MS fatigue and brain fog?

NCT ID NCT07680738

Symptom relief Sponsor: Universidad de Almeria Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jul 02, 2026 · Last updated Jul 02, 2026

Summary

This trial investigates whether a non-invasive technique called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can help with fatigue, depression, anxiety, and cognitive problems in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). tDCS uses a weak electrical current applied to the scalp to gently stimulate specific brain areas. The study includes 38 adults with relapsing or progressive MS who have had fatigue for at least six months. Each participant will receive both real tDCS and a sham (fake) treatment in a random order, and neither they nor the researchers will know which is which during the trial. The goal is to see if real tDCS reduces fatigue and improves mood and thinking more than the sham treatment.

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 it works, tDCS could offer a drug-free way to reduce fatigue, improve mood, and sharpen thinking in people with MS.
What could go wrong: This is a small, early-stage trial with only 38 participants. The sham-controlled design helps, but results may not apply to everyone with MS, and the effects might be modest.

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

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

38 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Aug 2023

Finished

Aug 2024

Lead sponsor

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

18 to 55 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

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

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 18-55 years at the time of enrollment * Clinical diagnosis of Relapsing Multiple Sclerosis (RMS) or Progressive Multiple Sclerosis (PMS), with or without active progression, established per the 2014 McDonald diagnostic criteria * Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 0-3 at the time of screening * Time since initial MS diagnosis of at least 6 months * Active fatigue symptoms reported by the participant for at least the 6 months prior to enrollment Exclusion Criteria: * History of neuropsychiatric illness (including major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or any anxiety disorder) prior to the onset of multiple sclerosis * Diagnosis of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (Devic's disease) * Presence of any other central nervous system disease * Disease duration greater than 10 years combined with an EDSS score of ≤ 2 * Visual impairment secondary to optic neuritis, internuclear ophthalmoplegia (oculomotor disorder), or any other uncorrected visual impairment that would affect task performance on cognitive assessments * Current pharmacological treatment for fatigue or depression * Current neuropsychiatric pharmacological treatment, including any antidepressant, anxiolytic, neuroleptic, or anticonvulsant medication * Clinical relapse requiring corticosteroid treatment in the 3 months prior to enrollment * Severe upper-limb motor deficit that would prevent task performance on neuropsychological assessments

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

chronic progressive multiple sclerosis Fatigue multiple sclerosis primary progressive multiple sclerosis relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Fatigue Fatigue in multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis Multiple sclerosis (MS) Multiple sclerosis (MS) - relapsing-remitting Multiple sclerosis (MS) primary progressive Non-invasive brain stimulation Transcranial direct current stimulation

Could a gentle zapping of the brain ease MS fatigue and brain fog?

What the study statuses mean