Enhancing Language Function in Primary Progressive Aphasia

NCT ID: NCT04920318

Last Updated: 2024-11-29

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

20 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2021-08-30

Study Completion Date

2027-06-15

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

This study's goal is to use non-invasive brain stimulation (NBS) techniques to treat language impairment associated with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). The purpose of this study is to combine behavioral language intervention with individualized noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to help the brain reorganize around damage and improve language functions.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative disorder that selectively affects language comprehension and/or production, with initial preservation of other cognitive domains. As tDCS has not been extensively studied in PPA, the investigators will measure both short- and long-term effects of stimulation in patients with this neurodegenerative disorder that affects specific language regions. Previous research suggests that neurostimulation with tDCS can safely induce changes in neural plasticity that can lead to long-term restoration of synaptic function. Thus, individually targeted stimulation to structurally preserved but dysfunctional regions may be able to produce behavioral improvements in primary progressive aphasia (PPA).

TDCS is a method of stimulating the brain that does not require any sedation or surgery. TDCS is a technique that sends a weak electrical current through the scalp to stimulate the brain areas below. The information gained from this research study will aid in the development of therapies to improve language in people with neurological conditions that affect language use.

TDCS will be applied over the activated area identified with the functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) fMRI-localizer task. This approach will allow for individually optimized tDCS electrode placement. It will also account for potential inter-participant variability in the brain atrophy and language organization

Summary of study sequence and procedures:

Week 1: Baseline screening, language testing, one event-related brain potential (EEG-ERP) session Weeks 2: fMRI session to determine most effective treatment Weeks 3-4: tDCS with Language Treatment Part 1 Weeks 5 and 6: rest-period, post-treatment assessment Weeks 7 to 8: TDCS with Language Treatment Part 2 Weeks 9 and 10: rest period, post-treatment assessment 2-month follow-up, language assessment, one MRI scan, one EEG-ERP session

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Primary Progressive Aphasia

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

CROSSOVER

individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease Primary Progressive Aphasia (AD-PPA) (\~50-80 years old) will be randomized to receive active tDCS+language treatment or sham (fake tDCS)+language treatment in a cross-over design.
Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators
The subject codes will be used for blinding of the participants, care-providers, and speech-language therapist administering the treatment.

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

active TDCS

During intervention excitatory/anodal tDCS will be administered alongside speech-language therapy 5 days a week for 2 weeks. The exact location of the stimulation and electrode configuration will be targeted individually based on the optimal site identified in fMRI. TDCS will be administered with NeurConn1 Channel DC- Stimulator Plus (neuroCare Group, München, Germany) according to established guidelines and procedures. The active tDCS will be delivered for 20 minutes using sponge electrodes with a 30-s ramp-up and ramp-down period

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

tDCS + language therapy

Intervention Type COMBINATION_PRODUCT

In this study fMRI-guided noninvasive neuromodulation will be applied, called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to the frontal and parietal brain regions that show reduced activation but still are structurally intact. TDCS will be paired with personalized speech-language therapy to enhance language functions.

sham TDCS

The sham will be administered alongside speech-language therapy 5 days a week for 2 weeks. For sham, stimulation will be ramped up and then down to 0 milliamperes (mA) in the first minute of stimulation. The sham parameters were chosen based on previous reports that the perceived sensations on the skin, such as tingling, fade out in the first 30 s of tDCS

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

sham TDCS + language therapy

Intervention Type COMBINATION_PRODUCT

sham control will be applied with language therapy to the same regions as active TDCS.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

tDCS + language therapy

In this study fMRI-guided noninvasive neuromodulation will be applied, called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to the frontal and parietal brain regions that show reduced activation but still are structurally intact. TDCS will be paired with personalized speech-language therapy to enhance language functions.

Intervention Type COMBINATION_PRODUCT

sham TDCS + language therapy

sham control will be applied with language therapy to the same regions as active TDCS.

Intervention Type COMBINATION_PRODUCT

Other Intervention Names

Discover alternative or legacy names that may be used to describe the listed interventions across different sources.

active tDCS transcranial direct current simulation (tDCS) sham transcranial direct current simulation (tDCS)

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

* diagnosed with PPA by neurologist or speech-language pathologist
* speech-language deficit arising from PPA
* native speaker of English Language or equivalent
* adequate vision (normal or corrected to normal)
* adequate hearing

Exclusion Criteria

* meeting (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) DSM-IV criteria for Axis I mood, anxiety, psychotic or substance abuse disorders.
* highly magnetizable metallic implants, including certain dental work
* neurological disorders besides the ones of interest for the study (e.g., epilepsy)
* Multiple Sclerosis
* Parkinson's Disease
* contraindications for MRI
* pacemakers
* metallic cardiac pumps
* valves
* magnetic materials such as surgical clips, implanted electronic perfusion pumps, or any other condition that would preclude proximity to a strong magnetic field.
* clinically significant claustrophobia
* severe systemic disease (e.g., renal failure)
* poor health
* pregnancy
* epileptic activity in the past 12 months
* family history of epilepsy or other seizure disorders
* brain surgery in the past
* metallic skull plates or implants
* skin lesions or skull damage
* excessive use of alcohol or drugs
* premorbid psychiatric disease affecting communication
* severe non-linguistic cognitive disturbances impeding language therapy
Minimum Eligible Age

45 Years

Maximum Eligible Age

80 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

University of Arizona

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Responsibility Role SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Aneta Kielar, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Arizona

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

University of Arizona

Tucson, Arizona, United States

Site Status RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

United States

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Aneta Kielar, PhD

Role: CONTACT

15204883791

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Aneta Kielar, PhD

Role: primary

520-488-3791

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

2103570362

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id