NCT01746498

Brief Summary

The current study is planed to compare the efficacy of real (anodal and cathodal) vs sham transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) applied over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on cognitive functions and cortical excitability of patients with Alzheimer disease (AD). Thirty three with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients (diagnosis of probable AD according to the criteria of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders Association \[NINCDS-ADRDA\] were included in this study) were randomly classified into one of three groups (eleven for each group). The first group received anodal tDCS over left DLPFC and 2rd group received cathodal tDCS on the left DLPFC and the 3rd group received sham tDCS stimulation, daily for 10 consecutive days (5 days/week for 2 weeks). Minimental State Examination (MMSE), psychometric assessment for cognitive functions (MMSE, Wechsler memory scale, Wechsler adult Intelligent scale) were assessed before, after 10th sessions, and then after 1 and 2 month. Cortical excitability was assessed in both hemispheres before and after the end of sessions. Neurophysiological evaluations included resting and active motor threshold (rMT and aMT), and cortical silent period (CSP). At the time of recruitment, none of the patients taking antidepressants, or neuroleptic, sedative-hypnotic drugs for at least two weeks before the assessment. All participants or their caregivers will give informed consent before participation in the test and after full explanation of the study protocol. Outcome: The real group received (anodal and cathodal) tDCS are expected to have more improvement on cognitive functions compared to sham tDCS group. tDCS is considered new adjuvant non pharmacological therapeutic tool for management of AD patients with mild to moderate degree dementia.

Trial Health

87
On Track

Trial Health Score

Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach

Enrollment
33

participants targeted

Target at P25-P50 for not_applicable alzheimer-disease

Timeline
Completed

Started Jun 2011

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
completed

Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.

Trial Relationships

Click on a node to explore related trials.

Study Timeline

Key milestones and dates

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2011

Completed
1.4 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

November 1, 2012

Completed
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

November 1, 2012

Completed
29 days until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

November 30, 2012

Completed
11 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

December 11, 2012

Completed
Last Updated

December 17, 2012

Status Verified

December 1, 2012

Enrollment Period

1.4 years

First QC Date

November 30, 2012

Last Update Submit

December 14, 2012

Conditions

Keywords

Alzheimer diseaseDirect current stimulationcognitive functionmemory

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • Minimental state Examination

    To measure the cognitive function in alzheimer patients through measuring orientation, Registration, Attention and calculation, Recall,language, and copying with a total score 30.

    base line and after 2 months

Secondary Outcomes (3)

  • changes in cortical excitability

    Base line and after 10 days

  • Wechsler memory scale

    Basal and 2 months

  • Intelligent questant ( IQ)

    basal and 2 months

Study Arms (3)

Group 1

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

11 patients We Applied real anodal tDCS on the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC)20 minutes every day for 10 consecutive days.

Procedure: Direct current stimulation using Anodal electrode

Group 2

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

11 patients we applied cathodal tDCS on left DLPFC for 20 minutes every day for 10 consecutive days.

Procedure: direct current stimulation using cathodal electrode

Group 3

SHAM COMPARATOR

11 patients We applied sham stimulations(anodal tDCS) on the left DLPFC for few seconds the stop stimulations 2 mA every day for 10 days.

Procedure: Sham direct current stimulation

Interventions

11 patients who received real anodal tDCS on the left DLPFC, 2 mA for 20 minute every day for 10 consecutive days

Group 1

11 patients who received real cathodal tDCS on the left DLPFC, 2 mA for 20 minute every day for 10 consecutive days

Group 2

11 patients who received sham anodal tDCS on the left DLPFC just for few seconds, 2 ma, every day for 10 consecutive days

Also known as: Direct current stimualtion (CX - 6650 Model TRCU - 04A Rolf Schneider Electronics, D-37130 Gleichen,, Germany).
Group 3

Eligibility Criteria

Age45 Years - 79 Years
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersNo
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Thirty patients with a diagnosis of probable AD according to the criteria of the National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRDA) (McKhann G et al.,1994) will be included in this study.

You may not qualify if:

  • previous history of stroke
  • Metabolic disturbances
  • Other major medical illness or epilepsy
  • Patients metallic objects in the body
  • Patients subjected to a craniotomy in the past.

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

Eman Khedr

Asyut, 11517, Egypt

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

DementiaBrain DiseasesCentral Nervous System DiseasesNervous System DiseasesTauopathiesNeurodegenerative DiseasesNeurocognitive DisordersMental Disorders

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Masking
DOUBLE
Who Masked
PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
PARALLEL
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Professor

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

November 30, 2012

First Posted

December 11, 2012

Study Start

June 1, 2011

Primary Completion

November 1, 2012

Study Completion

November 1, 2012

Last Updated

December 17, 2012

Record last verified: 2012-12

Locations