tACS Improves Memory in Elders With Subjective Memory Complaints

Remember NIBS? tACS Improves Memory Performance in Elders With Subjective Memory Complaints

Status

Completed

Phases

Study type

Interventional

Source

ClinicalTrials.gov

Registry ID

NCT05569902

Enrollment

Registered

2022-10-06

Start date

2021-10-01

Completion date

2022-08-01

Last updated

2022-10-10

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

Conditions

Memory Deficits, tACS

Keywords

Episodic memory, medial Prefrontal Cortex, tACS, SMC

Brief summary

Subjective memory complaints (SMC), the main cognitive component of which is event memory, is a predictor of Alzheimer's disease in elderly people. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with theta frequency (6 Hz) on the medial prefrontal cortex in the improvement of episodic memory in individuals with SMC in a double blind, randomized, and sham-controlled parallel study. Sixteen participants with SMC received either active or sham theta tACS on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). EEG was recorded and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) was administered. The aim of the current study was to see if theta tACS over the mPFC can improve event memory in individuals with SMC and thus can be considered a potential therapeutic intervention for this population or not.

Interventions

DEVICEactive tACS

transcranial alternating current stimulation is a non-invasive method of entraining specific frequency bands in the brain by applying weak intensities of electric current in a desired shape and phase to the desired brain regions.

DEVICEsham tACS

Study design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Intervention model

PARALLEL

Primary purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE (Subject, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

ALL

Age

50 Years to No maximum

Healthy volunteers

Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Being 50 or older, * Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) grade from 27 to 30 * Total score of 58 or more on the Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ) * no indications of depression and anxiety measured by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) * No sign of dementia based on Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder, 5th edition (DSM-V) criteria

Exclusion criteria

* History of a major psychological or neurological condition * History of head trauma leading to unconsciousness, * Presence of metal in the head * History of seizures * Serious cardiovascular disease * Use of medications with an impact on cognitive functions * Recent use of alcohol or substance abuse

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in performance	25 minutes i.e., before versus after the stimulation	Rey auditory-verbal learning test (RAVLT)

Secondary

Measure	Time frame	Description
Change in EEG power in theta frequency band	30 minutes, i.e., before versus after stimulation	Spectral analysis measuring power in different frequency bands
Change in phase synchronization connectivity in theta frequency band	30 minutes, i.e., before versus after stimulation	Phase relations between neural signals realized by means of phase-locking values (PLV)

Countries

Iran

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026