NCT03036319

Brief Summary

As individuals grow older, a number of factors can reduce our cognitive (or thinking) abilities such as "normal" aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and cardiovascular disease. This study will evaluate whether cognitive rehabilitation and transcranial electrical stimulation (TES) can improve cognitive abilities. Cognitive rehabilitation refers to methods that are used to improve tasks people have trouble doing in everyday life. Transcranial electrical stimulation uses small amounts of electricity to try to alter brain functioning. These approaches may help improve cognitive abilities like attention, learning, memory, finding words, and problem solving as well as everyday functioning. The goal of this study is to identify how to best use these methods, either alone or in combination.

Trial Health

77
On Track

Trial Health Score

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

Enrollment
500

participants targeted

Target at P75+ for not_applicable

Timeline
18mo left

Started Jun 2016

Longer than P75 for not_applicable

Geographic Reach
1 country

1 active site

Status
recruiting

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 Progress87%
Jun 2016Nov 2027

Study Start

First participant enrolled

June 1, 2016

Completed
8 months until next milestone

First Submitted

Initial submission to the registry

January 25, 2017

Completed
5 days until next milestone

First Posted

Study publicly available on registry

January 30, 2017

Completed
10.8 years until next milestone

Primary Completion

Last participant's last visit for primary outcome

November 1, 2027

Expected
Same day until next milestone

Study Completion

Last participant's last visit for all outcomes

November 1, 2027

Last Updated

January 14, 2026

Status Verified

January 1, 2026

Enrollment Period

11.4 years

First QC Date

January 25, 2017

Last Update Submit

January 12, 2026

Conditions

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

  • TES side effect questionnaire

    Side effect questionnaire that asks participants to rate the severity of potential TES related side effects

    Immediately following TES (<15 minutes)

Study Arms (7)

Active TES

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive "real" tES (tDCS, tACS, tRNS) in which they receive up to 4 milliamps (mA) of stimulation per electrode for up to 40 minutes for up to 260 sessions. As this may be a cross-over design, some participants may receive active and sham conditions.

Device: Active tDCSDevice: Active tACSDevice: Active tRNS

Sham TES

PLACEBO COMPARATOR

Participants undergoing this condition will have the exact same procedures as the active group, with the exception that they will receive only sham stimulation for up to 260 sessions.

Device: Sham tDCSDevice: Sham tACSDevice: Sham tRNS

Cognitively based intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants may receive a cognitively based intervention that targets the particular cognitive and/or functional abilities of interest. This includes methods of cognitive training, cognitive remediation, and cognitive rehabilitation.

Behavioral: Cognitively based intervention

Active TES + Cognitively based intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

This condition combines active TES and cognitively based interventions for some or all of the study sessions

Device: Active tDCSBehavioral: Cognitively based interventionDevice: Active tACSDevice: Active tRNS

Sham TES + Cognitively based intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

This condition combines sham TES and cognitively based interventions for some or all of the study sessions

Device: Sham tDCSBehavioral: Cognitively based interventionDevice: Sham tACSDevice: Sham tRNS

Active TES, Sham TES, Cognitively based interventions

EXPERIMENTAL

This condition combines active and sham TES with cognitively based interventions using a cross-over design

Device: Active tDCSDevice: Sham tDCSBehavioral: Cognitively based interventionDevice: Active tACSDevice: Sham tACSDevice: Active tRNSDevice: Sham tRNS

Active and Sham TES

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants will receive active and sham TES

Device: Active tDCSDevice: Sham tDCSDevice: Active tACSDevice: Sham tACSDevice: Active tRNSDevice: Sham tRNS

Interventions

Participants will receive active tDCS at up to 4mA per electrode for up to 40 minutes for up to 260 sessions.

Active TESActive TES + Cognitively based interventionActive TES, Sham TES, Cognitively based interventionsActive and Sham TES
Sham tDCSDEVICE

Participants will receive sham tDCS for up to 260 sessions

Active TES, Sham TES, Cognitively based interventionsActive and Sham TESSham TESSham TES + Cognitively based intervention

Participants may receive a cognitively based intervention that targets the particular cognitive and/or functional abilities of interest. This includes methods of cognitive training, cognitive remediation, and cognitive rehabilitation for up to 260 sessions

Active TES + Cognitively based interventionActive TES, Sham TES, Cognitively based interventionsCognitively based interventionSham TES + Cognitively based intervention

Participants will receive active transcranial alternating current stimulation at up to 4mA per electrode for up to 40 minutes for up to 260 sessions

Active TESActive TES + Cognitively based interventionActive TES, Sham TES, Cognitively based interventionsActive and Sham TES
Sham tACSDEVICE

Participants will receive sham transcranial alternating current stimulation for up to 260 sessions

Active TES, Sham TES, Cognitively based interventionsActive and Sham TESSham TESSham TES + Cognitively based intervention

Participants will receive active transcranial random noise stimulation at up to 4mA per electrode for up to 40 minutes for up to 260 sessions

Active TESActive TES + Cognitively based interventionActive TES, Sham TES, Cognitively based interventionsActive and Sham TES
Sham tRNSDEVICE

Participants will receive sham transcranial random noise stimulation for up to 260 sessions

Active TES, Sham TES, Cognitively based interventionsActive and Sham TESSham TESSham TES + Cognitively based intervention

Eligibility Criteria

Age50 Years+
Sexall
Healthy VolunteersYes
Age GroupsAdult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

  • Individuals who have reported cognitive dysfunction and cognitively intact participants.
  • Participants will be age 50 or older

You may not qualify if:

  • A history of epilepsy
  • Sensory or motor impairments that limit the ability to take part in the study
  • Current alcohol or drug abuse/dependence
  • Those who are currently pregnant or may become pregnant during the duration of the study (if there is a question of pregnancy, pregnancy tests will be available for participants at no charge)
  • Those who are being evaluated for TES methodology will also be excluded for 1) metallic or electronic implant 2) skull plates or other cranial implants that affect TES

Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.

Sponsors & Collaborators

Study Sites (1)

University of Michigan - Department of Psychiatry

Ann Arbor, Michigan, 48109, United States

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Cognition Disorders

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Neurocognitive DisordersMental Disorders

Study Officials

  • Benjamin M Hampstead, Ph.D.

    University of Michigan

    PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Central Study Contacts

Kayla Rinna, M.S.

CONTACT

Eileen Robinson, RN, MPH

CONTACT

Study Design

Study Type
interventional
Phase
not applicable
Allocation
NON RANDOMIZED
Masking
NONE
Masking Details
Given the nature of this study, the participant, care provider, investigator, and/or outcome assessors may or may not be blinded to the treatment condition.
Purpose
TREATMENT
Intervention Model
SINGLE GROUP
Sponsor Type
OTHER
Responsible Party
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
PI Title
Investigator

Study Record Dates

First Submitted

January 25, 2017

First Posted

January 30, 2017

Study Start

June 1, 2016

Primary Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

November 1, 2027

Last Updated

January 14, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

IPD Sharing
Will not share

Locations