Alzheimer Dementia (AD)
Conditions
Keywords
Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS), Alzheimer Dementia (AD)
Brief summary
TPS is a non-invasive therapeutic modality that uses focused, low-energy pulse stimulation to stimulate tissue regeneration and reduce inflammation. In the context of neurological disorders, it is hypothesized that TPS can modulate neuronal activity, enhance synaptic plasticity, and reduce neuroinflammation. It is a relatively new application in neurological disease treatment and is still under intense investigation.
Detailed description
This pilot randomized placebo-controlled trial investigates the effects of transcranial pulse stimulation in subjects with early Alzheimer's Disease (AD). The TPS/Sham-TPS is administered for the first two weeks, followed by additional sessions at some week intervals. The transcranial pulse stimulation device used in this trial is a CE-certified medical instrument (ISO 9001 and ISO 13485). The study aims to evaluate cognitive function, and neuropsychiatric symptoms using the some cognitive assessment tools, Frontal near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), and fasting blood test at baseline at week 12. This study is expected to lay the groundwork for future, larger-scale studies
Interventions
The TPS/Sham-TPS therapy is administered for the first two weeks, followed by additional sessions at some week intervals.
DEVICEtranscranial pulse stimulation (TPS-Sham)
Participants will undergo an identical procedure using a device that mimics the sound and sensation of active TPS but delivers no therapeutic energy pulses to the brain.
Sponsors
Asia Pacific Institute of Healthy ageing
Associated medical supplies company limited
Dongguan University of Technology
SuZhou Engin Bio-medical Electronics.Co.Ltd.
Chinese University of Hong Kong
Study design
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
QUADRUPLE (Subject, Caregiver, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Intervention model description
Participants with early AD, confirmed via blood tests, are randomly assigned to either a TPS treatment group or a placebo group. The treatment protocol involves an intensive TPS treatment period over two weeks followed by a continuous treatment period with additional treatments over some weeks. The placebo group receives sham treatment.
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
60 Years to 90 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
* Adults who have been clinically diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease in the early stage 2-6a according to the Functional Assessment Staging Test (In Appendix A) * The mental capacity to give informed consent for research is made by an experienced geriatrician based on Appendix A. * Aged 60-90 years old. * Able to make informed consent under assistance, which is witnessed and signed by a family caregiver.
Exclusion criteria
* Cannot understand Chinese. * Mentally incapacitated, unable to provide informed consent * Inability to remain still for 30 minutes * Lack of available family caregiver to answer questionnaires * Alcohol or substance dependence * Major neurological conditions, including: * Brain tumor * Brain aneurysm * Presence of any metal implants in the brain * Hemophilia or other blood clotting disorders * History of thrombosis
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale score. | baseline（ 1st Week）； follow-up （ after finishing the TPS therapy at 12th week） | The lower the score, the better the cognitive function; the higher the score, the more severe the cognitive impairment. Score range: 0-85 |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Change in the Neuropsychiatric Inventory total score. | baseline（ 1st Week）； follow-up （ after finishing the TPS therapy at 12th week） | The lower the score, the milder the neuropsychiatric symptoms; the higher the score, the more severe and frequent the symptoms, and the greater the burden on caregivers. Score range： 0-144 |
| Change in the Animal Fluency Test score | baseline（ 1st Week）； follow-up （ after finishing the TPS therapy at 12th week） | The more animal names you say within the specified time (the higher the score), the better your language fluency, cognitive processing speed, and semantic memory ability. Normal cognition typically has ≥ 15-18 (well-educated young or middle-aged individuals typically have ≥ 20). Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) may have 11-16 Dementia (such as Alzheimer's disease) typically has ≤ 12-14 , but may be lower. |
| Change in the Disability Assessment for Dementia total score. | baseline（ 1st Week）； follow-up （ after finishing the TPS therapy at 12th week） | The higher the score, the greater the patient's functional independence and the better the ability to carry out daily life. The lower the score, the more severe the functional impairment and the greater the dependence on others for care. Score range：0-100% |
| Change in oxygenated hemoglobin (HbO) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HbR) in the cerebral blood | baseline（ 1st Week）； follow-up （ after finishing the TPS therapy at 12th week） | — |
| Change in plasma Aβ42/40 | baseline（ 1st Week）； follow-up （ after finishing the TPS therapy at 12th week） | — |
Countries
Hong Kong
Contacts
Primary ContactKI SUM CHU, PhD candidate
Outcome results
None listed