NCT03475446

The Effect of tES on a Cognitive Training

Modulating the Effect of a Computerized Cognitive Training With Transcranial Electrical Stimulation in Individuals With and Without Memory Impairment

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 65 (actual)
• Sponsor: University of Bern · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 60 Years – 85 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) on a cognitive training in healthy elderly and memory impaired participants. In order to assess these effects different memory and attention tasks will be performed before and after the training as well as after 6 and 12 months.

Detailed description

As other studies have shown, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve the outcome of memory tasks in Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and healthy older adults. Only few studies have investigated the effect of the combination of tDCS and a simultaneous cognitive training and to the investigators' knowledge there is no comparison of tDCS and transcranial alternating current (tACS) effects during a cognitive training or for different populations. With results from this study existing trainings can be optimised. In total 180 participants are planned to be included in this study. This number is based on a g\*Power estimation. According to this estimation the study has to include 153 participants. Regarding similar studies the investigators assume a dropout rate of 15% resulting in a total of 180 participants (60 AD patients, 60 MCI patients and 60 healthy older adults) This number should make it possible to find the expected mild effects reported in literature. A mixed-effects ANOVA model with the between-subjects factor stimulation (tDCS, tACS, sham) and the within-subjects factor time will be computed.

Conditions

• Memory Impairment

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	real anodal tDCS healthy elderly	A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real anodal tDCS in the group of healthy elderly.
DEVICE	real tACS healthy elderly	A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real tACS in the group of healthy elderly.
DEVICE	sham tES healthy elderly	A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the sham tES in the group of healthy elderly.
DEVICE	real anodal tDCS MCI	A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real anodal tDCS in the MCI group.
DEVICE	real tACS MCI	A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real tACS in the MCI group.
DEVICE	sham tES MCI	A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the sham tES in the MCI group.
DEVICE	real anodal tDCS AD	A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real anodal tDCS in the AD group.
DEVICE	real tACS AD	A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real tACS in the AD group.
DEVICE	sham tES AD	A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the sham tES in the AD group.

Timeline

• Start date: 2018-01-15
• Primary completion: 2019-12-31
• Completion: 2019-12-31
• First posted: 2018-03-23
• Last updated: 2020-01-18

Locations

1 site across 1 country: Switzerland