Evaluating the Effects of tDCS on Sleep and Cognition in Healthy Older Adults
1 other identifier
interventional
23
1 country
1
Brief Summary
The goal of this interventional study is to learn if transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a gentle, cost-effective and non-invasive brain stimulation technique can improve sleep brain activity during an afternoon nap. Since these sleep brain patterns are linked to better memory, attention, and thinking skills, this study aims to find out if improving sleep in a nap can also enhance these cognitive skills in healthy older adults (aged 60+). The main questions it aims to answer are:
- Can a short (20-minute) tDCS session before a nap improve sleep patterns during the nap?
- Since these sleep patterns are linked to memory and attention, can tDCS also improve thinking skills after the nap?
- Are two tDCS session more effective than one for improving nap sleep and thinking skills? Participants will:
- Be required to come to the university for testing over four days. During each session they will:
- Complete computer based-tasks to assess memory and thinking.
- Receive a 20-minute session of either real (active) or fake (placebo) tDCS.
- Take a short, monitored nap while researchers measure sleep activity (using polysomnography - a gold-standard, non-invasive sleep monitoring tool).
- Complete an easy-to-use sleep test at home on the nights after the naps.
- Wear a lightweight watch (called an Actiwatch) throughout the study period to track sleep and movement.
- Complete daily sleep diaries. By taking part, participants will help researchers understand whether tDCS can improve sleep during naps and, in turn, support memory and thinking skills. This research could lead to better treatments for sleep problems, help protect brain health, and reduce the risk of dementia as people age. The brain stimulation in this study may also help improve their sleep and cognition.
Trial Health
Trial Health Score
Automated assessment based on enrollment pace, timeline, and geographic reach
participants targeted
Target at below P25 for not_applicable
Started Jul 2025
Shorter than P25 for not_applicable
1 active site
Health score is calculated from publicly available data and should be used for screening purposes only.
Trial Relationships
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Study Timeline
Key milestones and dates
First Submitted
Initial submission to the registry
March 13, 2025
CompletedFirst Posted
Study publicly available on registry
April 22, 2025
CompletedStudy Start
First participant enrolled
July 1, 2025
CompletedPrimary Completion
Last participant's last visit for primary outcome
October 31, 2025
CompletedStudy Completion
Last participant's last visit for all outcomes
October 31, 2025
CompletedJuly 4, 2025
July 1, 2025
4 months
March 13, 2025
July 1, 2025
Conditions
Keywords
Outcome Measures
Primary Outcomes (7)
Sleep spindle density
PSG-measured slow (11.99 - 12.99Hz) and fast (13 - 14.99Hz) sleep spindle density
During nap immediately after tDCS application
Sleep spindle amplitude
PSG-measured slow (11.99 - 12.99Hz) and fast (13 - 14.99Hz) sleep spindle amplitude
During nap immediately after tDCS application
Slow wave sleep amplitude
PSG-measured SWS amplitude (peak-to-peak, μV)
During nap immediately after tDCS application
Slow wave sleep density
PSG-measured slow wave sleep density (number of slow waves divided by the minutes of sleep)
During nap immediately after tDCS application
Verbal declarative memory
Change in Verbal Paired Associates Word Learning Task performance will be measured by % correct recall at baseline (before the tDCS intervention and nap) compared to % correct recall 15 minutes after the nap has taken place.
Baseline (before tDCS/nap) and 15 minutes after the nap
Attentional Network Task (ANT)
Change in Attentional Network Task performance will be measured by Reaction Time (RT) (Milliseconds (ms) at baseline (before the tDCS intervention and nap) compared to RT (ms) 15 minutes after the nap has taken place.
Baseline (before tDCS/nap) and 15 minutes after the nap
Attentional Network Task (ANT)
Change in Attentional Network Task performance will be measured by Accuracy (%) at baseline (before the tDCS intervention and nap) compared to Accuracy (%) 15 minutes after the nap has taken place.
Baseline (before tDCS/nap) and 15 minutes after the nap
Secondary Outcomes (2)
Visuo-spatial declarative picture memory
Baseline (before tDCS/nap) and 15 minutes after the nap
Visuo-spatial declarative location memory
Baseline (before tDCS/nap) and 15 minutes after the nap
Study Arms (2)
Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
ACTIVE COMPARATORTranscranial direct current stimulation. Participants will experience a 20-minute session of active tDCS (1.2 mA) on two consecutive days.
Placebo Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
PLACEBO COMPARATORTranscranial direct current stimulation. Participants will experience a 20-minute session of placebo tDCS on two consecutive days.
Interventions
Placebo Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): Participants will experience a 20-minute session of placebo tDCS on two consecutive days.
Active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Participants will experience a 20-minute session of active tDCS (1.2 mA) on two consecutive days.
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if:
- Aged 60+ years
- Speak fluent English
- Be cognitively healthy
- A self-reported good sleeper, with a regular sleep pattern
You may not qualify if:
- The presence of any major physical or psychiatric illness or comorbidities
- Self-reported neurodegenerative dementia or other neurological disorders
- Self-reported relevant sleep disorders or disturbances
- Those with irregular sleep schedules (i.e. night shift workers)
- A PSQI score above 5 (as this is associated with significant sleep disturbance)
- Relevant skin allergies
- Taking medication that affects the central nervous system or sleep, or consume caffeine, alcohol or cigarettes excessively
- Metallic or electronic implants
Contact the study team to confirm eligibility.
Sponsors & Collaborators
Study Sites (1)
Northumbria University
Newcastle upon Tyne, NE1 8ST, United Kingdom
MeSH Terms
Interventions
Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)
Study Officials
- PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Rosie H Musgrave, BA Hons, RPSGT
Northumbria University
Study Design
- Study Type
- interventional
- Phase
- not applicable
- Allocation
- RANDOMIZED
- Masking
- DOUBLE
- Who Masked
- PARTICIPANT, INVESTIGATOR
- Purpose
- PREVENTION
- Intervention Model
- CROSSOVER
- Sponsor Type
- OTHER
- Responsible Party
- SPONSOR
Study Record Dates
First Submitted
March 13, 2025
First Posted
April 22, 2025
Study Start
July 1, 2025
Primary Completion
October 31, 2025
Study Completion
October 31, 2025
Last Updated
July 4, 2025
Record last verified: 2025-07
Data Sharing
- IPD Sharing
- Will not share