WithdrawnNot Applicable

tDCS and Speech Therapy for Motor Speech Disorders Caused by FTLD Syndromes: a Feasibility Study

Stopped: The tDCS device that was going to be used for this study is no longer being made.

0Started 2022-07-01

Plain-language summary

The investigators will test the feasibility of using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and speech therapy to treat participants with motor speech disorders caused by Frontotemporal Lobar Degeneration Pathology including nonfluent variant Primary Progressive Aphasia, Progressive Supranuclear Palsy, Corticobasal Syndrome, or behavioral variant Frontotemporal Dementia. The investigators will deliver transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) either in a clinic setting at the University of California San Francisco, or in patients' homes, via a consumer tDCS device and videoconferencing. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a neuromodulation technique that can enhance the benefits of speech therapy treatment. Participants will receive a dose of tDCS stimulation + speech therapy and a dose of sham tDCS + speech therapy in a randomized double blind crossover study performed either in the clinic or at home via videoconferencing. This study can be performed entirely remotely.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 95 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Mini Mental Status Exam score \> 10 * diagnosis of nfvPPA via Gorno-Tempini 2011 criteria, or a diagnosis of FTLD syndrome including progressive supranuclear palsy, corticobasal syndrome or behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia PLUS a motor speech disorder (apraxia of speech and/or dysarthria) * able to give consent * right-handed * native English speaker * having a caregiver who is also able to sign and understand the caregiver's consent form. Exclusion Criteria: History of: * stroke * TBI * brain cancer * seizures * craniotomy, skull surgery or fracture * metallic implant in head * pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator * pregnancy.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in speech intelligibility

Timeframe: baseline and immediately after the first block of treatment

Change in speech intelligibility

Timeframe: baseline and immediately after the second block of treatment

Change in speech intelligibility

Timeframe: baseline and three months post treatment

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04883229

SponsorUniversity of California, San Francisco

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2023-11-30

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Nonfluent Aphasia, Progressive trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 95 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.