Trials / Completed
CompletedNCT04362696
Improving Working Memory in Older Adults
Improving Working Memory in Older Adults by Restoring Large-Scale Cortical Interactions
- Status
- Completed
- Phase
- N/A
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 964 (actual)
- Sponsor
- Boston University Charles River Campus · Academic / Other
- Sex
- All
- Age
- 18 Years – 80 Years
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
Summary
The research program will evaluate the theoretical claim that age-related memory and cognitive decline in humans result from the inefficient orchestration of rhythmic activity within large-scale cortical networks. The results will contribute to the basic science groundwork for developing future non-pharmacological interventions aimed at boosting memory and cognition in aging and clinical populations.
Detailed description
We hypothesize that aged-related memory and cognitive impairments emerge from large-scale functional dysconnectivity, and by stimulating the brain noninvasively with extremely weak levels of electrical current, we may be able to re-synchronize connectivity and stabilize or improve memory and cognitive function, measured behaviorally. The experiments of this project are proposed as between-subjects, sham-controlled, and double-blind in design, and use noninvasive electroencephalographic (EEG) measurements of rhythmic brain activity. The experimental intervention involves the application of low-intensity, high-definition, transcranial electrical current stimulation while subjects perform a variety of computer-based tasks that probe memory and cognitive function.
Conditions
Interventions
| Type | Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| DEVICE | High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation | Low-intensity and safe, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of gradually modulating levels of neuronal excitability. |
Timeline
- Start date
- 2019-09-01
- Primary completion
- 2025-04-30
- Completion
- 2025-04-30
- First posted
- 2020-04-27
- Last updated
- 2025-08-03
Locations
1 site across 1 country: United States
Regulatory
- FDA-regulated device study
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov record NCT04362696. Inclusion in this directory is not an endorsement.