Mild Cognitive Impairment
Conditions
Keywords
tDCS, Glutamate, MRS, fMRI, fNIRS
Brief summary
This study will evaluate the effects of a form of non-invasive brain stimulation on brain functioning and memory in cognitively intact older adults (healthy controls, HC) and in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).
Detailed description
The goal of this study is to learn important information about the effects of weak electrical stimulation (known as high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation or HD-tDCS) on brain functioning in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The findings will help determine how stimulation affects brain's activity and metabolism (in particular, the neurotransmitter glutamate). Ultimately, this information may help develop new treatments for those with Alzheimer's disease. The study will use different forms of brain imaging to see whether stimulation changes how the brain responds during a memory task. Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS), functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be used. The study also uses cognitive tests and questionnaires.
Interventions
DEVICEsham tDCS
Participants will receive sham (placebo) HD-tDCS for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
DEVICEactive tDCS
Participants will receive HD-tDCS at 3 milliAmp for 20 minutes, for 1 session.
Sponsors
University of Michigan
Alzheimer's Association
Wayne State University
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE (Subject, Investigator)
Intervention model description
Healthy controls (HC) and individuals with MCI will be randomized 1:1:1:1 to receive either sham or active stimulation (i.e., HC sham tDCS, HC active tDCS, MCI sham tDCS, MCI active tDCS) for 1 session using a blocked randomization design.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
* Normal cognition for HC and diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) for MCI participants * Right-handedness * Magnetic resonance compatible, criteria that also apply for high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS; e.g., absence of metallic or electronic implants in the upper body or head)
Exclusion criteria
* History of other contributing neurological or medical conditions known to affect cognitive functioning * Significant mental illness * Sensory impairments that limit ability to participate * History of alcohol or drug abuse/dependence
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in glutamate concentration (fMRS) | average on 1 week | Analyses via fMRS using units of concentration |
| Changes in brain activation (fMRI) | average of 1 week | Analyses via fMRI using units of brain activation |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Changes in brain activation (fNIRS) | immediate, concurrent with tDCS | Analyses via fNIRS using units of brain activation |
| Changes in memory performance | average of 1 week | Analyses of memory performance indexed as percent accuracy |
Countries
United States
Contacts
CONTACTHarini Babu, MSc
CONTACTEileen Robinson, RN-BC
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORAlexandru Iordan, PhD
University of Michigan
Outcome results
None listed