Down Syndrome
Conditions
Brief summary
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a method which enables noninvasive electrical stimulation of the cortex via electrodes placed on the subject's skull. High definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) allows for precise generation of electrical fields over selected cortical areas using multiple electrodes. The purpose of this pilot trial is to study feasibility, tolerability, and safety of HD-tDCS administered daily for a total of 20 sessions in healthy adults and 5-10 year old children with Down syndrome. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES Part I: To assess feasibility and tolerability of HD-tDCS, administered up to 5 days per week for a total of 20 sessions in healthy adult subjects; Part II: After review of the safety data for Part I is completed and reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Committee and IRB, Part II will be initiated. To assess feasibility and tolerability of HD-tDCS, administered up to 5 days per week for a total of 20 sessions in adult subjects with Down Syndrome.
Detailed description
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a method which enables noninvasive electrical stimulation of the cortex via electrodes placed on the subject's skull. tDCS has been shown to improve motor learning, visuomotor coordination, probabilistic classification, boost memory in humans and was found to be well tolerated in children with early onset schizophrenia, continuous spike-wave in sleep (CSWS), refractory epilepsy and dystonia. The method has been approved for investigational purposes by the FDA. High definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) allows for precise generation of electrical fields over selected cortical areas using multiple electrodes. Positioning of the stimulating electrodes is determined with the help of MR brain images and appropriate modeling. The purpose of this pilot trial is to study feasibility, tolerability, and safety of HD-tDCS administered daily for a total of 20 sessions. PRIMARY OBJECTIVES Part I: To assess feasibility and tolerability of HD-tDCS, administered up to 5 days per week for a total of 20 sessions in healthy adult subjects; Part I will be defined to be positive if 5 healthy adults are accrued within the study period (12 months) and at least 4 of 5 participants have successful completion. Tolerability will be measured as the proportion of subjects able to complete 20 sessions on the assigned treatment within 6 weeks. Part II: After review of the safety data for Part I is completed and reviewed by the Data Safety Monitoring Committee and IRB, Part II will be initiated. To assess feasibility and tolerability of HD-tDCS, administered up to 5 days per week for a total of 20 sessions in pediatric subjects with Down Syndrome; Part II will be defined to be positive if 5 children with Down Syndrome are accrued within the study period (24 months) and at least 4 of 5 participants have successful completion. Tolerability will be measured as the proportion of subjects able to complete 20 sessions on the assigned treatment within 6 weeks. SECONDARY OBJECTIVES Part I: - Collect pilot data on safety of HD-tDCS in healthy adults, where safety is defined by incidents of adverse events. Safety outcomes will include vital signs, physical/neurologic exam findings, weight, electrocardiograms and electroencephalograms. \- Collect pilot data on feasibility of efficacy endpoints. These will include assessment of impact of HD-tDCS, administered up to 5 days per week for a total of 20 sessions, on EEG amplitudes and coherences in the lower (\<8Hz) and higher (\>9Hz) frequency ranges and coherences in the lower (\<8Hz) and gamma (30-80 Hz) frequency ranges in healthy adults. Part II: - Collect pilot data on safety of HD-tDCS in children (5-10 years) with Down Syndrome, where safety is defined by incidents of adverse events. Procedures to monitor subject safety include vital sign measurements, physical/neurologic examinations, electrocardiograms and electroencephalograms. Clinically significant changes in the safety measures will be documented as adverse events. Collect pilot data on feasibility of efficacy endpoints. These will include assessment of impact of HD-tDCS, administered up to 5 days per week for a total of 20 sessions, on EEG amplitudes and coherences in the lower (\<8Hz) and higher (\>9Hz) frequency ranges and coherences in the lower (\<8Hz) and gamma (30-80 Hz) frequency ranges in children with Down Syndrome.
Interventions
Sponsors
University of Wisconsin, Madison
Study design
Allocation
NA
Intervention model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary purpose
DEVICE_FEASIBILITY
Masking
NONE
Intervention model description
HD-tDCS (High definition transcranial direct current stimulation)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 45 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
PART I Inclusion Criteria: * Adult aged \> 18 years and ≤ 45 years * Healthy Adult subjects have the ability to consent for themselves. No previous or current medical history of epilepsy, neurologic, heart, endocrinologic, renal, chronic infectious, metabolic, psychiatric disease or cancer * Normal physical examination * Normal neurologic examination * Normal EKG * Normal EEG * IQ above 80. We will only include individuals with college education to assure that IQ requirements are met.
Exclusion criteria
* Previous or current medical history of epilepsy, neurologic, heart, endocrinologic, renal, chronic infectious, metabolic, psychiatric disease or cancer * Healthy adult subjects will be excluded from the study if the subject is not suitable for study participation due to other reasons, at the discretion of the PI. PART II Inclusion criteria * Adult aged \> 18 years and ≤ 45 years * Genetically confirmed Trisomy 21
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Feasibility and tolerability of HD-tDCS in healthy adult subjects | One year | To assess feasibility and tolerability of HD-tDCS, administered up to 5 days per week for a total of 20 sessions in healthy adult subjects; Part I will be defined to be positive if 5 healthy adults are accrued within the study period (12 months) and 4 of 5 participants (80%) have successful completion. |
| Feasibility and tolerability of HD-tDCS in adults with Down syndrome | Two years | To assess feasibility and tolerability of HD-tDCS, administered up to 5 days per week for a total of 20 sessions in adult subjects with Down Syndrome; Part II will be defined to be positive if 5 adults with Down Syndrome are accrued within the study period (12 months) and at least 4 of 5 participants (80%) have successful completion. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Collect pilot data on safety of HD-tDCS in healthy adults | One year | Collect pilot data on safety of HD-tDCS in healthy adults, where safety is defined by incidence of adverse events. |
| Collect pilot data on feasibility of efficacy endpoints | One year | \- Collect pilot data on feasibility of efficacy endpoints. These will include assessment of impact of HD-tDCS, administered up to 5 days per week for a total of 20 sessions, on EEG amplitudes and coherences in healthy adults |
| Collect pilot data on safety of HD-tDCS in adults with Down Syndrome | Two years | Collect pilot data on safety of HD-tDCS in adults with Down Syndrome, where safety is defined by incidence of adverse events. |
| Collect pilot data on feasibility of efficacy endpoints. | Two years | \- Collect pilot data on feasibility of efficacy endpoints. These will include assessment of impact of HD-tDCS, administered up to 5 days per week for a total of 20 sessions, on EEG amplitudes and coherences. |
Countries
United States
Outcome results
None listed