Could a zap to the ear boost memory in diabetes patients?
NCT ID NCT07642518
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tests whether a mild electrical stimulation applied to the ear (via a small device) can improve memory and thinking in people with type 2 diabetes who also have mild cognitive impairment. The trial will involve 38 participants who will either receive the active stimulation or a sham (fake) version for 24 weeks. The main goal is to see if this non-invasive treatment can help slow or improve cognitive decline.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation device
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a non-drug, at-home treatment to slow memory decline in people with type 2 diabetes.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early-stage trial with only 38 people, so results may not apply widely. The sham control group also receives a device, so the real benefit may be small or hard to detect.
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 38 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Expected to start
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May 2026
An estimate. Start dates often move.
- 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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40 to 75 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. Type 2 diabetes mellitus 2. Meets criteria for mild cognitive impairment 3. Aged 40 to 75 years, with no gender restrictions 4. HbA1c levels between 6.5% and 9.0% 5. At least 6 years of formal education 6. Able to cooperate with and complete all cognitive and functional assessments 7. Right-handed 8. Voluntary provision of written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: 1. Concomitant use of GLP-1 receptor agonists, Alzheimer's disease medications, anti-Parkinson's medications, antiepileptic drugs, or antipsychotic drugs within 3 months prior to screening 2. Presence of dementia-related neurological disorders; current or history of clinically significant psychiatric disorders within the past 2 years (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, personality disorders) 3. CNS diseases, including traumatic brain injury, intracranial hemorrhage, acute cerebral infarction, etc 4. Severe sinusitis, nasal and sinus polyps, space-occupying lesions such as skull base or nasopharyngeal tumors; congenital diseases or history of trauma of the nose, maxillofacial region, or skull base that affect olfactory function; presence of upper respiratory tract infection symptoms (e.g., nasal congestion, rhinorrhea, fever) on the day of the MRI scan 5. Acute complications of diabetes, including diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, hypoglycemic coma, etc 6. Severe impairment of major organ function (e.g., heart, liver, kidneys), including any of the following: ALT and/or AST \> 3×ULN. eGFR \< 45 mL/min/1.72 m² (CKD-EPI). History of unstable angina, myocardial infarction, or NYHA Class II or higher heart failure within 3 months prior to screening 7. Concurrent major illnesses, such as active or untreated malignancies, or malignancies in clinical remission for less than 5 years. 8. Contraindications for MRI scans (e.g., implanted metallic prostheses, claustrophobia); presence of cardiac pacemakers or other implantable medical devices; severe infection or ulceration of the auricular skin 9. Pregnant or lactating women 10. History of alcohol abuse, defined as an average weekly alcohol consumption exceeding 21 units for males and 14 units for females (1 unit = 360 mL of beer, 150 mL of wine, or 45 mL of distilled spirits/liquor) 11. Any other conditions or factors that, in the opinion of the investigator, may confound the efficacy or safety evaluation of the study, making the participant unsuitable for enrollment
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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 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.
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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