tACS Improves Memory in Elders With Subjective Memory Complaints

NCT ID: NCT05569902

Last Updated: 2022-10-10

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: COMPLETED
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 16 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2021-10-01
• Study Completion Date: 2022-08-01

Brief Summary

Subjective memory complaints (SMC), the main cognitive component of which is event memory, is a predictor of Alzheimer's disease in elderly people. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with theta frequency (6 Hz) on the medial prefrontal cortex in the improvement of episodic memory in individuals with SMC in a double blind, randomized, and sham-controlled parallel study. Sixteen participants with SMC received either active or sham theta tACS on the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). EEG was recorded and Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) was administered. The aim of the current study was to see if theta tACS over the mPFC can improve event memory in individuals with SMC and thus can be considered a potential therapeutic intervention for this population or not.

Conditions

Memory Deficits; tACS

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: DOUBLE

Study Groups

Active tACS

Participants in this group received 20 minutes of active 6 Hz stimulation over the medial prefrontal cortex.

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

active tACS

Intervention Type: DEVICE

transcranial alternating current stimulation is a non-invasive method of entraining specific frequency bands in the brain by applying weak intensities of electric current in a desired shape and phase to the desired brain regions.

Sham tACS

Participants in this group received 20 minutes of sham stimulation over the medial prefrontal cortex.

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

sham tACS

Intervention Type: DEVICE

transcranial alternating current stimulation is a non-invasive method of entraining specific frequency bands in the brain by applying weak intensities of electric current in a desired shape and phase to the desired brain regions.

Interventions

active tACS

transcranial alternating current stimulation is a non-invasive method of entraining specific frequency bands in the brain by applying weak intensities of electric current in a desired shape and phase to the desired brain regions.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

sham tACS

transcranial alternating current stimulation is a non-invasive method of entraining specific frequency bands in the brain by applying weak intensities of electric current in a desired shape and phase to the desired brain regions.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Being 50 or older,
• Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) grade from 27 to 30
• Total score of 58 or more on the Everyday Memory Questionnaire (EMQ)
• no indications of depression and anxiety measured by Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
• No sign of dementia based on Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorder, 5th edition (DSM-V) criteria

Exclusion Criteria

• History of a major psychological or neurological condition
• History of head trauma leading to unconsciousness,
• Presence of metal in the head
• History of seizures
• Serious cardiovascular disease
• Use of medications with an impact on cognitive functions
• Recent use of alcohol or substance abuse

• Minimum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Sponsors

University of Tehran

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

reza kazemi

Assistant professor

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Reza Rostami, M.D.

Role: STUDY_DIRECTOR

University of Tehran

Sahereh Varastegan, MSc

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

University of Tehran

Locations

National Brain Mapping Lab

Tehran, , Iran

Countries

Iran

Other Identifiers

tACS

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id