CompletedNot Applicable

Simultaneous tDCS and Computerised Gamified Short-term Memory Task Feasibility

Denmark13 participantsStarted 2022-07-04

Plain-language summary

The goal of this observational study is to gain insight into the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on short-term memory task performance and the feasibility of tDCS in overtly healthy carriers of the susceptibility allele, Apolipoprotein (APOE) ε4, for late-onset Alzheimers disease. The main questions the study aims to answer are: * If tDCS is feasible in overtly healthy APOE ε4 carriers using a headset and an app-based short-term memory task. * If overtly healthy APOE ε4 carriers perform better on a complex short-term memory task when receiving tDCS to the right hemisphere (F4 à PZ) compared to the left hemisphere (F3 à PZ) or sham tDCS. Participants will be asked to complete an app-based short-term memory task while receiving either tDCS to either the right or left hemisphere or sham stimulation on 3 different days spread out over 1-3 weeks.

Who can participate

Age range

55 Years – 75 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 range: 55-75 years old * The participant is confirmed to carry at least one APOE ε4 allele on a blood test * The participant has at least 7 years of education or a good working history * Normal cognition (MMSE score \> 26) Exclusion Criteria: * Any dementia * Significant systematic disease * Severe and unstable medical disease or psychiatric disorder, including medications for these diseases or disorders * Past history of stroke or brain damage * Epilepsy or history of epileptic seizures * Migraine * Skin or scalp condition in the areas where the electrodes will be placed * Depression * Alcohol or drug abuse * Significantly impaired vision or hearing * Colour blindness * Adverse effects to previous tDCS or other brain stimulation techniques

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

Observations of the feasibility of simultaneous tDCS with a computerised, gamified short-term memory task

Timeframe: During stimulation (up to 1 hour)

Participants' self-reported experience of the simultaneous tDCS with a computerised, gamified short-term memory task assessed by a self-report questionnaire

Timeframe: Post-stimulation (through study completion, up to 1 year)

Effects of tDCS on computerised gamified short-term memory task performance

Timeframe: Post-stimulation (through study completion, up to 1 year)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06402266

SponsorUniversity of Aarhus

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeOBSERVATIONAL

Primary completion2022-12-12

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Genetic Predisposition trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range

55 Years – 75 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.

What they're measuring

Observations of the feasibility of simultaneous tDCS with a computerised, gamified short-term memory task

Timeframe: During stimulation (up to 1 hour)

Participants' self-reported experience of the simultaneous tDCS with a computerised, gamified short-term memory task assessed by a self-report questionnaire

Timeframe: Post-stimulation (through study completion, up to 1 year)

Effects of tDCS on computerised gamified short-term memory task performance

Timeframe: Post-stimulation (through study completion, up to 1 year)