The purpose of this clinical trial is to investigate the feasibility and efficacy of non-invasive transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) at gamma frequency in enhancing memory recall and modulating sleep network dynamics measured by at-home electroencephalography (EEG) in healthy elderly people. Eligible participants will first collect sleep EEG at home for one night to acclimate to the data collection during sleep. Participants are then randomized into first undergoing either tACS at gamma band frequencies (i.e. 40Hz) or tACS at a control frequency (i.e. 21Hz). Stimulation is administered in the lab during a cognitive testing battery that includes memorizing items. After a night of sleep with EEG at home, participants return to the lab the following day to measure memory recall. Recall is performed again after five days. This sequence of encoding during stimulation in the lab, sleep EEG at home for one night, and recall is then repeated for the other stimulation condition about a week later. Participants are wearing an actigraphy wristband throughout the study period.
Age range
50 Years
Sex
ALL
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A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
Percent of Participants Tolerating Cognitive Testing During tACS
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1)
Verbal Memory at Day 1
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1)
Verbal Memory at Day 2
Timeframe: Follow-Up (Day 2)
Verbal Memory at Day 5
Timeframe: Follow-Up (Day 5)
Associative Verbal Memory at Day 1
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1)
Associative Verbal Memory at Day 2
Timeframe: Follow-Up (Day 2)
Associative Verbal Memory at Day 5
Timeframe: Follow-Up (Day 5)
Percentage of Participants in Which it is Possible to Obtain at Least 4 Hours EEG Recording
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1)
Percentage of Participants Who Wear the EEG Device During All Three Nights for at Least 4 Hours
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1)
Amount of Sleep Spindles in Sleep-EEG
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1)
Amount of Slow Wave Sleep in Sleep-EEG
Timeframe: Baseline (Day 1)