Mild Cognitive Impairment, Vascular Cognitive Impairment
Conditions
Keywords
transcranial direct current stimulation, tDCS, exercise, cognition, vascular cognitive impairment no dementia, vascular mild cognitive impairment
Brief summary
People with vascular conditions are at risk of having memory problems, and these memory problems increase the risk for further cognitive decline. Brain stimulation has been used to improve mood and memory. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is believed to work best on brain cells that are active or "primed" before stimulation. The purpose of this study is to compare the effects of exercise and tDCS on memory performance in patients who have completed cardiac rehabilitation and are at risk of cognitive decline.
Detailed description
Vascular disease is a major risk factor and contributor to dementia. Current interventions to manage vascular risk factors have mixed results. Presently, there are no consistently effective treatments targeting vascular cognitive impairment no dementia. Study Aim: To evaluate the effect of exercise-primed tDCS on global cognition. Study Design: Eligible participants will be randomized to one of four interventions: Exercise primer with tDCS, Treatment as usual (TAU/exercise education) with tDCS, or Exercise primer with sham tDCS, Treatment as usual with sham tDCS. Participants randomized to an exercise group will undergo exercise, followed by either sham or active tDCS. Participants randomized to TAU will receive written information in accordance with the Canadian Physical Activity Guidelines for older adults and tDCS or sham. Cognition, behaviour, neuroimaging and blood biomarkers will be measured.
Interventions
OTHERtDCS
All participants randomized to tDCS will receive active tDCS
OTHERExercise
Participants will exercise at Toronto Rehab.
OTHERSham stimulation
The same procedure for tDCS will be used for the sham condition, except without active current.
OTHERTreatment as usual
Exercise education/ treatment as usual will include routine advice about physical activity.
Sponsors
Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Masking description
Participants, outcomes assessors, and investigators will be blinded to stimulation type.
Intervention model description
Randomized, blinded, repeated-session, parallel-design study
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
50 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* ≥50 years of age; females must be post-menopausal * Presence of cerebrovascular and/or cardiovascular risk factors or coronary artery disease * Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) \<27 * Sufficiently proficient in English * Must be able to exercise at a moderate intensity level * Presence of modest deficits (1 standard deviation below population norm) in one of the following domains: executive function, verbal memory, working memory, or visuospatial memory
Exclusion criteria
* History of stroke * Change in psychotropics within the last 4 weeks * Current benzodiazepine use due * Metal implants that would preclude safe use of tDCS or neuroimaging * Significant neurological or psychiatric conditions (current major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia) * MoCA \<18 and/or clinical diagnosis of dementia * Any medical contraindications to exercise
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Montreal Cognitive Assessment - Global Cognition | 2 weeks | The Montreal Cognitive Assessment is a 5-minute test of global cognition and a validated tool for detecting early cognitive changes. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Cognitive domains | 2 weeks | Cognitive domains will be measured using the 60-minute battery recommended by the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke-Canadian Stroke Network. |
| Behavioural measures | 2 weeks | Behaviour will be measured with the Mild Behavioural Impairment-Checklist. |
Countries
Canada
Contacts
CONTACTMehreen Siddiqui
CONTACTKate Survilla
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORKrista Lanctôt, PhD
Sunnybrook Research Institute
Outcome results
None listed