Active — Not RecruitingNot Applicable

Effects of t-DCS and Cognitive Training on Apathy in Elderly With Minor Neurocognitive Impairment

France27 participantsStarted 2022-04-05

Plain-language summary

Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation technique using a low intensity electric current to modify cortical excitability. Apathy is a pervasive neuropsychiatric symptom characterized by a reduction in goal-directed behavior and activity that persists over time and causes identifiable functional impairment. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of repeated sessions of tDCS combined with simultaneous cognitive training on apathy in older people with minor neurocognitive disorders.

Who can participate

Age range

65 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: * Age ≥ 65 years * Subject consulting in one of the investigating centers * Clinical diagnosis of Minor Neurocognitive Disorder according to DSM 5 criteria (APA, 2013) * Apathetic syndrome defined according to the Diagnostic Criteria for Apathy (Miller \& al., 2021) * Subject who can read and write French * Subjects who are beneficiaries of a social security plan * Signature of free and informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Current clinical diagnosis of a depressive episode characterized by DSM 5 criteria (APA, 2013) * Known diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, substance abuse or dependence * Significant sensory or motor impairment * Subject under guardianship, conservatorship, or conservatorship * Active smoking or smoking cessation of less than one year * Contraindications to the practice of tDCS: history of intracranial hypertension, neurosurgery, metallic implant at the cephalic level, pacemaker * Unbalanced epilepsy * Severe somatic disease not stabilized * Previous use of tDCS (problem of maintaining the integrity of the blinding procedure) * Scalp skin disease * Concurrent participation in another drug research study or any other study that may interfere with study results

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

Apathy Inventory (Robert et al., 2002), clinician version

Timeframe: Changes from baseline severity of apathy at 4 weeks and 18 weeks are assessed (12 weeks after the end of intervention)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT05232877

SponsorCentre Hospitalier Universitaire de Nice

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-04-04

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Apathy trials