Cognitive Impairment, Mobility Limitation
Conditions
Brief summary
Loss of mobility and cognitive ability are serious conditions that threaten the independence of older adults. The objective of this study is to initiate a line of research to develop a novel therapeutic intervention to enhance both mobility and cognition via neuroplasticity of frontal/executive circuits.
Detailed description
Frontal lobe dysfunction has been implicated as a factor contributing to gait deficits in some individuals with Alzheimer's disease, frontotemporal dementia and vascular dementia. There is a critical gap in knowledge about what therapeutic strategies are effective for maintaining or reinstating function in this critical brain region in order to preserve physical and cognitive health in older adults. The goal of our research is to develop a novel therapeutic intervention to enhance both mobility and cognition via neuroplasticity of frontal/executive control circuits. The Investigator will engage neuroplasticity of frontal circuits in two ways. The first is through neurorehabilitation with complex walking tasks (CWTs), such as obstacle crossing, obstacle avoidance and walking on non-uniform surfaces. CWTs are a potent behavioral approach for engaging prefrontal circuits. Furthermore, CWTs are crucial to successful ambulation in the home and community settings and therefore provide an ecologically valid therapeutic approach. The second approach that the Investigator will use to engage neuroplasticity of frontal circuits is anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Anodal tDCS is a safe, non-invasive neuromodulation technique. It has previously been shown to induce excitatory effects on brain tissue and, in single-session assessments, to improve performance during complex walking tasks. tDCS has also been shown to be an effective adjuvant for enhancing the effects of cognitive training. The objective of this study is to calculate effect size, establish variance of response and demonstrate feasibility of the experimental interventions in order to plan for a full scale clinical trial. Participants will include thirty older adults who demonstrate evidence of frontal/executive impairment. Participants will be randomized to one of three groups: 1) standard walking neurorehabilitation with sham tDCS ('standard/sham' group), 2) complex walking neurorehabilitation with sham tDCS ('complex/sham' group), or 3) complex walking neurorehabilitation with active anodal tDCS ('complex/active' group). Functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be used to explore intervention-induced changes in prefrontal cortical activity. Assessments will be conducted at baseline, post-treatment and 3-month follow up. The Investigator propose the following specific aims: Specific Aim 1: Determine preliminary efficacy for recovery of mobility and cognitive function. Specific Aim 2: Demonstrate feasibility/safety of tDCS as an adjuvant to rehabilitation. Specific Aim 3: Explore the relationship between prefrontal activity and behavioral outcomes The data collected here will provide the information needed to justify and plan a future full scale clinical trial to assess the relative efficacy and underlying mechanisms of each intervention approach.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALNeurorehabilitation of Standard Walking
Neurorehabilitation is a behavioral therapeutic approach for enhancing the neural control of task performance by: Restoration of function, specificity of training, Sensory input to the nervous system, Intensity, Repetition and Progression of training. Neurorehabilitation of standard walking will focus on the use of typical steady state walking.
BEHAVIORALNeurorehabilitation of Complex Walking
Neurorehabilitation is a behavioral therapeutic approach for enhancing the neural control of task performance by: Restoration of function, specificity of training, Sensory input to the nervous system, Intensity, Repetition and Progression of training. Neurorehabilitation of complex walking will focus on the use of walking tasks that require increased attention and executive functions. The following walking tasks will be used: over obstacles, navigating around obstacles, changing speeds, on soft surfaces (exercise mat), in dim lighting, while conversing with the therapist, up/down ramps and climbing/descending stairs.
tDCS will be used to induce positive neuromodulation of frontal/executive circuits to make them more amenable to the activity-dependent neuroplasticity that is known to occur with behavioral neurorehabilitation. Specifically, tDCS may facilitate the efficacy of our walking neurorehabilitation intervention by strengthening the synaptic connections within the recruited circuits.
tDCS will be used to induce positive neuromodulation of frontal/executive circuits to make them more amenable to the activity-dependent neuroplasticity that is known to occur with behavioral neurorehabilitation. Specifically, tDCS may facilitate the efficacy of our walking neurorehabilitation intervention by strengthening the synaptic connections within the recruited circuits.
Sponsors
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
University of Florida
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Masking description
To control for intensity, participants will maintain a rating of perceived exertion of 4 (moderate to strong) on the Borg Category/Ratio Scale during walking. Exertion will be adjusted by modifying walking speed and/or by modifying the rest time between walking bouts.
Intervention model description
Participants will take part in a 6-week, 18-session neurorehabilitation led by qualified and trained study personnel. Participants will be randomized to one of three groups: 1) standard walking neurorehabilitation with sham tDCS ('standard/sham' group), 2) complex walking neurorehabilitation with sham tDCS ('complex/sham' group), or 3) complex walking neurorehabilitation with active anodal tDCS ('complex/active' group). Training logs will be maintained to gauge the content and intensity of training.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
65 Years to 110 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* preferred 10m walking speed \< 1.0 m/s * 40th-80th percentile rank (age and education corrected score) on NIH toolbox executive assessments: Card Sort Test and Flanker test * willingness to be randomized to either intervention and to participate in all aspects of study assessment and intervention
Exclusion criteria
* contraindications to non-invasive brain stimulation and/or MRI including metal in the head, pacemaker, known abnormal cranial fissures/holes. * difficulty communicating with study personnel * uncontrolled hypertension at rest (systolic \> 180 mmHg and/or diastolic \> 100 mmHg) * low vision that cannot be corrected by wearing glasses. Low visual will be operationally defined as visual acuity less than 20/70 on a standard eye chart, or difficulty performing complex walking tasks due to visual conditions affecting accurate navigation around and over obstacles (self-reported or observed by examiner). * illiterate, due to the likelihood of difficulties performing some of the cognitive tasks * non-English speaking, due to the likelihood of difficulties following instructions during therapy and during assessments * use of medications that are know to modify tDCS effectiveness including those with anticholinergic, GABAergic, or glutamatergic properties, or sodium channel blockers * clinical judgment of investigative team
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Mobility: Figure-of-eight Walking Test (Figure-8 Walk Test) | Change (value at 6 weeks minus value at baseline) | Time to complete a walking course at usual pace. The course is 15 feet in length and arranged as a Figure-8 pattern. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive Composite Executive Score on EXAMINER Battery | Change (value at 6 weeks minus value at baseline) | EXAMINER is an acronym for Executive Abilities:Measures and Instruments for Neurobehavioral Evaluation and Research. EXAMINER is a battery of assessments that tests 7 domains of executive function separately and as a composite score. The composite score is based on Item Response Theory (logistic modeling) and ranges from a minimum value of -4 to a maximum value of 4. Higher scores indicate better performance. |
Countries
United States
Participant flow
Participants by arm
| Arm | Count |
|---|---|
| Complex Walking With Active tDCS Neurorehabilitation of Complex Walking and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) dosage B
Neurorehabilitation of Complex Walking: Neurorehabilitation is a behavioral therapeutic approach for enhancing the neural control of task performance by: Restoration of function, specificity of training, Sensory input to the nervous system, Intensity, Repetition and Progression of training. Neurorehabilitation of complex walking will focus on the use of walking tasks that require increased attention and executive functions. The following walking tasks will be used: over obstacles, navigating around obstacles, changing speeds, on soft surfaces (exercise mat), in dim lighting, while conversing with the therapist, up/down ramps and climbing/descending stairs.
Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Active tDCS): tDCS will be used to induce positive neuromodulation of frontal/executive circuits to make them more amenable to the activity-dependent neuroplasticity that is known to occur with behavioral neurorehabilitation. Specifically, tDCS may facilitate the efficacy of our walking neurorehabilitation intervention by strengthening the synaptic connections within the recruited circuits. | 7 |
| Complex Walking With tDCS Dosage A Neurorehabilitation of Complex Walking and Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Sham tDCS)
Neurorehabilitation of Complex Walking: Neurorehabilitation is a behavioral therapeutic approach for enhancing the neural control of task performance by: Restoration of function, specificity of training, Sensory input to the nervous system, Intensity, Repetition and Progression of training. Neurorehabilitation of complex walking will focus on the use of walking tasks that require increased attention and executive functions. The following walking tasks will be used: over obstacles, navigating around obstacles, changing speeds, on soft surfaces (exercise mat), in dim lighting, while conversing with the therapist, up/down ramps and climbing/descending stairs.
Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): Sham tDCS is a placebo to Active tDCS | 6 |
| Standard Walking With tDCS Dosage A Neurorehabilitation of Standard Walking and Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (Sham tDCS)
Neurorehabilitation of Standard Walking: Neurorehabilitation is a behavioral therapeutic approach for enhancing the neural control of task performance by: Restoration of function, specificity of training, Sensory input to the nervous system, Intensity, Repetition and Progression of training. Neurorehabilitation of standard walking will focus on the use of typical steady state walking.
Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): Sham tDCS is a placebo to Active tDCS | 7 |
| Total | 20 |
Baseline characteristics
| Characteristic | Complex Walking With Active tDCS | Total | Standard Walking With tDCS Dosage A | Complex Walking With tDCS Dosage A |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age, Continuous | 75.4 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.8 | 73.2 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 6.03 | 73.7 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 7.6 | 70.6 years STANDARD_DEVIATION 5.2 |
| Race (NIH/OMB) American Indian or Alaska Native | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Asian | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Black or African American | 1 Participants | 6 Participants | 3 Participants | 2 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) More than one race | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) Unknown or Not Reported | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants | 0 Participants |
| Race (NIH/OMB) White | 6 Participants | 14 Participants | 4 Participants | 4 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Female | 5 Participants | 15 Participants | 5 Participants | 5 Participants |
| Sex: Female, Male Male | 2 Participants | 5 Participants | 2 Participants | 1 Participants |
| Typical Walking Speed | 0.94 meters per second STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.18 | 0.95 meters per second STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.16 | 0.97 meters per second STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.12 | 0.95 meters per second STANDARD_DEVIATION 0.15 |
Adverse events
| Event type | EG000 affected / at risk | EG001 affected / at risk | EG002 affected / at risk |
|---|---|---|---|
| deaths Total, all-cause mortality | 0 / 7 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 7 |
| other Total, other adverse events | 1 / 7 | 2 / 6 | 2 / 7 |
| serious Total, serious adverse events | 1 / 7 | 0 / 6 | 0 / 7 |
Outcome results
Primary
Mobility: Figure-of-eight Walking Test (Figure-8 Walk Test)
Time to complete a walking course at usual pace. The course is 15 feet in length and arranged as a Figure-8 pattern.
Time frame: Change (value at 6 weeks minus value at baseline)
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complex Walking With Active tDCS | Mobility: Figure-of-eight Walking Test (Figure-8 Walk Test) | 10.57 seconds | Standard Deviation 1.93 |
| Complex Walking With Sham tDCS | Mobility: Figure-of-eight Walking Test (Figure-8 Walk Test) | 9.58 seconds | Standard Deviation 1.42 |
| Standard Walking With Sham tDCS | Mobility: Figure-of-eight Walking Test (Figure-8 Walk Test) | 11.00 seconds | Standard Deviation 2 |
Secondary
Cognitive Composite Executive Score on EXAMINER Battery
EXAMINER is an acronym for Executive Abilities:Measures and Instruments for Neurobehavioral Evaluation and Research. EXAMINER is a battery of assessments that tests 7 domains of executive function separately and as a composite score. The composite score is based on Item Response Theory (logistic modeling) and ranges from a minimum value of -4 to a maximum value of 4. Higher scores indicate better performance.
Time frame: Change (value at 6 weeks minus value at baseline)
| Arm | Measure | Value (MEAN) | Dispersion |
|---|---|---|---|
| Complex Walking With Active tDCS | Cognitive Composite Executive Score on EXAMINER Battery | -0.19 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.74 |
| Complex Walking With Sham tDCS | Cognitive Composite Executive Score on EXAMINER Battery | 0.29 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.22 |
| Standard Walking With Sham tDCS | Cognitive Composite Executive Score on EXAMINER Battery | 0.03 units on a scale | Standard Deviation 0.96 |