RecruitingNot Applicable

Remotely-supervised Neuromodulation in PPA

United States80 participantsStarted 2026-04-15

Plain-language summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether home-based brain stimulation combined with virtual speech-language therapy can improve communication abilities in adults with logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA), a language disorder most often caused by Alzheimer's disease. The main questions the study aims to answer are: * Is combining remotely supervised transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with virtual speech-language therapy feasible and acceptable for people with lvPPA? * Does this combined treatment lead to improvements in communication compared to speech-language therapy with sham (placebo) stimulation? * Do individual brain characteristics help predict who benefits most from this treatment? Researchers will compare participants who receive active tDCS plus virtual speech-language therapy to participants who receive sham (placebo) tDCS plus virtual speech-language therapy to see if active brain stimulation enhances communication outcomes. Participants will: * Complete speech-language therapy sessions delivered by video visit. * Receive either active or sham tDCS that is remotely supervised and completed at home. * Complete language and cognitive testing before and after treatment. * Undergo brain imaging and other assessments to help understand treatment response.

Who can participate

Age range

40 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: * Meets diagnostic criteria for primary progressive aphasia (PPA) * Meets diagnostic criteria for logopenic variant PPA * Attains score of 15 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination * Has adequate hearing and vision (with hearing or vision aids, if needed) * Is able to travel to research site and undergo MRI brain scan * Has access to high speed internet and basic experience using a computer and the internet * Is a fluent speaker of English * Has a study partner who can co-enroll in the study, attend pre-treatment training at the research site, and be present for teleconference meetings, as needed Exclusion Criteria: * Speech and language deficits better accounted for by another neurological disorder * Does not meet diagnostic criteria for logopenic variant PPA * Scores less than 15 on the Mini-Mental State Examination * Does not have a study partner who can co-enroll in the study * Has contraindications for tDCS or MRI scan (History of seizures, head injury, craniotomy, skull surgery or fracture; History of severe or frequent migraines; Metallic implant in head or any metal in head; Pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator or any other stimulator; Chronic skin problems; Pregnancy) * Has a history of stroke, epilepsy, or significant brain injury

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 spoken naming

Timeframe: change from pre-treatment to one month and three months after onset of treatment in each phase (stimulation and sham)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07260253

SponsorMaya Henry

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2029-05

Contact for this trial

Aphasia Lab Research Coordinator

512-471-3420 aphasialab@austin.utexas.edu

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Primary Progressive Aphasia(PPA) trials