NCT07240272

tACS Modulates Speech and Cognitive Impairments in People With PD by Targeting the Medial Frontal Cortex

Modulation of Executive Functions and Speech in Parkinson's Disease by Theta tACS Targeted at the Medial Frontal Cortex

• Status: Completed
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 28 (actual)
• Sponsor: Ke Dong, MD · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 35 Years – 80 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Accepted

Summary

This clinical trial aims to study whether transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) applied to the medial frontal cortex (MFC) can improve speech and cognitive function in people with Parkinson's disease (PD), and to evaluate the safety of tACS. The main goals are to answer the following questions: 1. Can tACS stimulation of the MFC improve executive functions in people with PD (such as reasoning, planning, inhibition, and complex problem-solving)? 2. Can it improve the integration of auditory information and speech motor control during communication? Researchers will compare the effects of real tACS versus sham (placebo) stimulation to see if real stimulation leads to better speech and cognitive outcomes in PD patients. Participants will: 1. Receive one extra 20-minute session of either real or sham tACS each day for two weeks 2. Attend clinic visits before stimulation, right after the 2-week period, and again at 1 month and 3 months for assessments and tests 3. Have their executive function scores, speech performance, and related brain activity recorded

Conditions

• Parkinson Disease

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
OTHER	6Hz-tACS	tACS applied to the MFC at a frequency of 6 Hz, using a high-definition 1×4 electrode configuration with individualized current intensity, delivered for 20 minutes.
OTHER	Sham-tACS	Except for turning down the current intensity to zero during the 20-minute period, all other parameters are identical to those in 6Hz-group.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-01
• Primary completion: 2025-05-01
• Completion: 2025-08-01
• First posted: 2025-11-20
• Last updated: 2025-11-20

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China