TDCS as Augmentation Therapy to Cognitive Training in Mild Dementia

NCT ID: NCT06559254

Last Updated: 2024-08-19

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

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Recruitment Status

NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

36 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2024-09-01

Study Completion Date

2025-09-30

Brief Summary

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Due to increase in life expectancy, major neurocognitive disorder (MND) becoming increasingly important as reflected in the increasing number in dementia population, as well as in burden to health care system and to caregiver.

Among current treatment, cognitive training has shown to have significant outcome in cognitive impaired patient. But the effect is reported to be small and might not be long-lasting. In consideration of the neuronal excitability effect in tDCS, it may consolidate the effect of cognitive training if used simultaneously. The study will investigate on efficacy of tDCS as combined intervention to cognitive training.

The study aims to investigate the efficacy of 2-week (5 sessions per week) tDCS to augment cognitive training in subjects with MND with clinically mild severity. Patients with diagnosis of MND or dementia from HKWC will be recruited with inclusion and exclusion criteria listed. The eligible participants will be randomized to receive either active intervention (active tDCS) or sham (sham tDCS) as control with cognitive training simultaneously.

Each session lasts for 20 minutes. The subjects will be allocated to either interventional or control group using block randomization. Block of 4 will be used to allocate subjects at 1:1 ratio between two groups. Both the participants and investigators responsible for assessment and data analysis will be blinded to the group allocation. Primary and secondary outcome will be assessed at baseline, week 2 (after course of intervention) and 4 weeks after the course of intervention. Baseline assessment assesses on demographic data (e.g. age, gender, years of education), clinical data with full psychiatric assessment and access to previous medical record, neuropsychiatric data (HK-MoCA and CNPI). Primary outcomes includes N-back (cognitive training) performance, forward and backward digit span. Secondary outcomes includes measurement on dementia rating and trail making test. In data analysis, any group differences in demographics and clinical profiles between the intervention and sham group at baseline will be assess. ANOVA will be performed to examine the effect of time and intervention on primary outcome and other cognitive assessment across time points. Potential confounders will be adjusted.

Baseline assessments and outcome measures is either psychiatric assessment, clinician rating scales or cognitive assessment performed with investigator.

Detailed Description

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Due to increase in life expectancy, major neurocognitive disorder (MND) becoming increasingly important as reflected in the increasing number in dementia population, as well as in burden to health care system and to caregiver.

Among current treatment, cognitive training has shown to have significant outcome in cognitive impaired patient. But the effect is reported to be small and might not be long-lasting. In consideration of the neuronal excitability effect in tDCS, it may consolidate the effect of cognitive training if used simultaneously. The study will investigate on efficacy of tDCS as combined intervention to cognitive training.

The study aims to investigate the efficacy of 2-week (5 sessions per week) tDCS to augment cognitive training in subjects with major neurocognitive disorder with clinically mild severity. Patients with diagnosis of MND or dementia from HKWC will be recruited with inclusion and exclusion criteria listed. The eligible participants will be randomized to receive either active intervention (active tDCS) or sham (sham tDCS) as control with cognitive training simultaneously.

Each session lasts for 20 minutes. The subjects will be allocated to either interventional group or control group using block randomization. Block of 4 will be used to allocate subjects at 1:1 ratio between two groups. Both the participants and investigators responsible for assessment and data analysis will be blinded to the group allocation. Primary outcome and secondary outcome will be assessed at baseline, week 2 (after course of intervention) and 4 weeks after the course of intervention. Baseline assessment assesses on demographic data (e.g. age, gender, years of education), clinical data with full psychiatric assessment and access to previous medical record, neuropsychiatric data (HK-MoCA and CNPI). Primary outcomes includes N-back (cognitive training) performance, forward and backward digit span. Secondary outcomes includes measurement on dementia rating and trail making test. In data analysis, any group differences in demographics and clinical profiles between the intervention and sham group at baseline will be assess. ANOVA will be performed to examine the effect of time and intervention on primary outcome and other cognitive assessment across time points. Potential confounders will be adjusted.

Baseline assessments and outcome measures is either psychiatric assessment, clinician rating scales or cognitive assessment performed with investigator. No questionnaires will be given to participants.

Conditions

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Major Neurocognitive Disorder

Study Design

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Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

TREATMENT

Blinding Strategy

QUADRUPLE

Participants Caregivers Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

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active tdcs with cognitive training

active transcranial direct current stimulation with cognitive training by N-back using computerized programme

Group Type ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

transcranial direct current stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation by applying weak current through electrode. It can archive excitation by anode stimulation or inhibition by stimulating cathode. By inducing modification of membrane polarisation, it can modulate cerebral excitability. Literature suggested anode tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) improved cognitive function, in terms of responding faster and more accurate in cognitive tasks. tDCS was well tolerated and accepted by participants.

Sham tdcs with cognitive training

Sham transcranial direct current stimulation with cognitive training by N-back using computerized programme

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

transcranial direct current stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation by applying weak current through electrode. It can archive excitation by anode stimulation or inhibition by stimulating cathode. By inducing modification of membrane polarisation, it can modulate cerebral excitability. Literature suggested anode tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) improved cognitive function, in terms of responding faster and more accurate in cognitive tasks. tDCS was well tolerated and accepted by participants.

Interventions

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transcranial direct current stimulation

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation by applying weak current through electrode. It can archive excitation by anode stimulation or inhibition by stimulating cathode. By inducing modification of membrane polarisation, it can modulate cerebral excitability. Literature suggested anode tDCS over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) improved cognitive function, in terms of responding faster and more accurate in cognitive tasks. tDCS was well tolerated and accepted by participants.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

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Inclusion Criteria

* 65 years of age or above
* Right-handedness Chinese as defined by Edinburgh handedness inventory
* Cantonese speaking
* Fulfil the criteria of Major neurocognitive disorder, as defined by the 5 th Edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM- 5)
* Clinical Dementia Rating Global score = 1

Exclusion Criteria

* Active diagnosis of mood disorder or psychosis
* Alcohol or substance dependence
* Initiation or change in dose of cognitive enhancer within 6 months prior to the onset of the study 14
* Poor physical condition and mobility
* Having regular cognitive training (as defined by at least three 1-hour weekly structured and standardized cognitive training in recent 3 months) 15
* Receiving tDCS within 2 months prior to the onset of study 16
* Significant communication or visual impairment
* Having metal implant in area above upper back, or having metal crown or metal brace, or pacemaker
Minimum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

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The University of Hong Kong

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Hospital Authority, Hong Kong

OTHER_GOV

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

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Tam Tsz Ying

Resident

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

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Pak Wing Cheng, MBBS, HKU

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

The University of Hong Kong

Locations

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Queen Mary Hospital

Hong Kong, , Hong Kong

Site Status

Countries

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Hong Kong

Central Contacts

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Tsz Ying Tam, MBBS, HKU

Role: CONTACT

85295742654

Facility Contacts

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Pak Wing Cheng, MBBS, HKU

Role: primary

85270835708

Tsz Ying Tam, MBBS, HKU

Role: backup

85295742654

References

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Kim HJ, Baek MJ, Kim S. Alternative type of the trail making test in nonnative English-speakers: the trail making test-black & white. PLoS One. 2014 Feb 13;9(2):e89078. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089078. eCollection 2014.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 24551221 (View on PubMed)

Yeung PY, Wong LL, Chan CC, Leung JL, Yung CY. A validation study of the Hong Kong version of Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA) in Chinese older adults in Hong Kong. Hong Kong Med J. 2014 Dec;20(6):504-10. doi: 10.12809/hkmj144219. Epub 2014 Aug 15.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25125421 (View on PubMed)

Gandiga PC, Hummel FC, Cohen LG. Transcranial DC stimulation (tDCS): a tool for double-blind sham-controlled clinical studies in brain stimulation. Clin Neurophysiol. 2006 Apr;117(4):845-50. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2005.12.003. Epub 2006 Jan 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 16427357 (View on PubMed)

Cruz Gonzalez P, Fong KNK, Chung RCK, Ting KH, Law LLF, Brown T. Can Transcranial Direct-Current Stimulation Alone or Combined With Cognitive Training Be Used as a Clinical Intervention to Improve Cognitive Functioning in Persons With Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Front Hum Neurosci. 2018 Oct 16;12:416. doi: 10.3389/fnhum.2018.00416. eCollection 2018.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30386223 (View on PubMed)

Lampit A, Hallock H, Suo C, Naismith SL, Valenzuela M. Cognitive training-induced short-term functional and long-term structural plastic change is related to gains in global cognition in healthy older adults: a pilot study. Front Aging Neurosci. 2015 Mar 9;7:14. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2015.00014. eCollection 2015.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25805989 (View on PubMed)

Jones RW. Have cholinergic therapies reached their clinical boundary in Alzheimer's disease? Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2003 Sep;18(Suppl 1):S7-S13. doi: 10.1002/gps.936.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 12973745 (View on PubMed)

Hill NT, Mowszowski L, Naismith SL, Chadwick VL, Valenzuela M, Lampit A. Computerized Cognitive Training in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment or Dementia: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Psychiatry. 2017 Apr 1;174(4):329-340. doi: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2016.16030360. Epub 2016 Nov 14.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 27838936 (View on PubMed)

Mintun MA, Lo AC, Duggan Evans C, Wessels AM, Ardayfio PA, Andersen SW, Shcherbinin S, Sparks J, Sims JR, Brys M, Apostolova LG, Salloway SP, Skovronsky DM. Donanemab in Early Alzheimer's Disease. N Engl J Med. 2021 May 6;384(18):1691-1704. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2100708. Epub 2021 Mar 13.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33720637 (View on PubMed)

Tricco AC, Ashoor HM, Soobiah C, Rios P, Veroniki AA, Hamid JS, Ivory JD, Khan PA, Yazdi F, Ghassemi M, Blondal E, Ho JM, Ng CH, Hemmelgarn B, Majumdar SR, Perrier L, Straus SE. Comparative Effectiveness and Safety of Cognitive Enhancers for Treating Alzheimer's Disease: Systematic Review and Network Metaanalysis. J Am Geriatr Soc. 2018 Jan;66(1):170-178. doi: 10.1111/jgs.15069. Epub 2017 Sep 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29131306 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

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UW 24-305

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

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