Brain stimulation, aging and cognition: Investigating neuroplasticity and cognitive enhancement following brain stimulation in healthy ageing and amnestic mild cognitive impairment.

Effect of transcranial direct current stimulation on neuroplasticity and cognitive performance in younger adults, older adults and adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment

Status

Completed

Phases

Unknown

Study type

Interventional

Source

ANZCTR

Registry ID

ACTRN12614001052628

Enrollment

Registered

2014-10-02

Start date

2014-11-13

Completion date

2016-08-19

Last updated

2020-01-13

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

None listed

Brief summary

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (a-MCI) is believed to represent a transition period between normal aging and Alzheimer's disease. People with a-MCI experience problems with their memory without it impacting on their daily functioning. As a-MCI represents a stage prior to irreversible neurodegeneration, it is important from a therapeutic perspective that neural changes occurring in a-MCI are determined in order to see if there remains potential for response to treatment. Neuroplasticity refers to the brains ability to re-organize its function in response to the environment. One aspect of this is known as long-term potentiation (LTP), which is imperative in learning and memory. LTP-like plasticity can be induced through brain stimulation techniques including transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Application of tDCS through a gentle electrical current can increase brain activity as measured through electroencephalography (EEG) and behavioural outcomes. When transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is applied in combination with EEG, the cortical excitability of the stimulated and surrounding brain regions can be determined. This provides information about the LTP-like plasticity that is present. Together with cognitive performance, this information can help to determine the changes occurring in a-MCI compared to younger and older adults, and the relationships between plasticity and cognition. The aim of our study is to investigate whether LTP can be induced in a-MCI and if there are differences in LTP-like plasticity compared to younger and older healthy adults, and the relationship of plasticity to cognitive performance.

Interventions

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) involves the application of a weak electric current to the scalp to non-invasively increase cortical excitability. Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) at 1mA intensity will be applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (LDLPFC) for 20 minutes in a single session.

Study design

Allocation

Non-randomised trial

Primary purpose

Treatment

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

18 Years to 75 Years

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

a) Diagnosis of amnestic mild cognitive impairment (56 - 75 years) OR b) Healthy adults aged between 18 - 35 years OR 56 - 75 years with no cognitive complaints.

Exclusion criteria

* History of seizures or neurological disorders * Current psychiatric diagnoses, alcohol or substance dependence * Left-handed * Presence of metal in head * Women who are currently pregnant or lactating * Individuals taking benzodiazepines or acetyl cholinesterase inhibitors

Outcome results