Alpha tACS in Dementia With Lewy Bodies

NCT ID: NCT05188105

Last Updated: 2024-03-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 15 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-10-18
• Study Completion Date: 2024-03-20

Brief Summary

Brain oscillations are ubiquitous in the human brain and have been implicated in cognitive and behavioral states defined in precisely tuned neural networks. In neurodegenerative disorders, neurodegeneration is accompanied by changes in oscillatory activity leading to the emerging concept of neurological and psychiatric disorders as "oscillopathies".

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), which is the second most frequent cause of neurodegenerative dementia, is characterized by an important alteration of brain oscillations. The restoration of oscillations by neuronal entrainment in animal models of neurodegenerative disease has shown a significant reduction in the neuropathological load of toxic proteins, with a consequent significant increase in cognitive performance.

Transcranial alternating current brain stimulation (tACS), is a neurophysiological method of non-invasive modulation of the excitability of the central nervous system that is having an increasingly numerous spectrum of potential therapeutic applications. Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this method in modulating the natural frequencies of cerebral oscillation, underlying multiple cognitive processes such as verbal memory, perception and working memory.

On the basis of these premises, the treatment with alpha tACS is proposed in patients with DLB.

In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, cross-over study, the investigators will evaluate whether a single stimulation with alpha tACS on the occipital lobes can improve symptoms in patients with DLB.

Detailed Description

Brain oscillations are ubiquitous in the human brain and have been implicated in cognitive and behavioral states defined in precisely tuned neural networks. In neurodegenerative disorders, neurodegeneration is accompanied by changes in oscillatory activity leading to the emerging concept of neurological and psychiatric disorders as "oscillopathies".

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), which is the second most frequent cause of neurodegenerative dementia, is characterized by an important alteration of brain oscillations. The restoration of oscillations by neuronal entrainment in animal models of neurodegenerative disease has shown a significant reduction in the neuropathological load of toxic proteins, with a consequent significant increase in cognitive performance.

Transcranial alternating current brain stimulation (tACS), is a neurophysiological method of non-invasive modulation of the excitability of the central nervous system that is having an increasingly numerous spectrum of potential therapeutic applications. Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this method in modulating the natural frequencies of cerebral oscillation, underlying multiple cognitive processes such as verbal memory, perception and working memory.

On the basis of these premises, the treatment with alpha tACS is proposed in patients with DLB.

In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, cross-over study, the investigators will evaluate whether a single stimulation with alpha tACS on the occipital lobes can improve symptoms in patients with DLB.

Subjects will be randomized in two groups, one receiving a single treatment with alpha tACS (12 Hz) first and the other receiving sham stimulation. After one week the treatments will be exchanged. Patients will be evaluated with neuropsychological tests and neurophysiological measures of cholinergic transmission.

Conditions

Dementia With Lewy Bodies; Lewy Body Disease

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: CROSSOVER
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

real tACS

Single session of alpha tACS (12 Hz) at 3 mA over the occipital cortex.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Alpha tACS (12 Hz) over the occipital cortex

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Single session of alpha tACS (12 Hz) over the occipital cortex

sham tACS

Single session of sham tACS over the occipital cortex.

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

Alpha tACS (12 Hz) over the occipital cortex

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Single session of alpha tACS (12 Hz) over the occipital cortex

Interventions

Alpha tACS (12 Hz) over the occipital cortex

Single session of alpha tACS (12 Hz) over the occipital cortex

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Dementia with Lewy bodies (criteria according to McKeith, Neurology 2017).

Exclusion Criteria

• Cerebrovascular disorders, previous stroke, hydrocephalus, and intra-cranial mass documented by MRI.
• History of traumatic brain injury or other neurological diseases.
• Serious medical illness other than DLB
• History of seizures
• Pregnancy
• Metal implants in the head (except dental fillings)
• Electronic implants (i.e. pace-maker, implanted medical pump)
• Age <18 years

• Minimum Eligible Age: 18 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Barbara Borroni

Clinical Professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Barbara Borroni, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia

Alberto Benussi, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia

Locations

ASST Spedali Civili di Brescia

Brescia, BS, Italy

Countries

Italy

References

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Other Identifiers

NP4758

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id