Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Personalized Closed-Loop Brain Stimulation for Patients With Primary Progressive Aphasia

United States10 participantsStarted 2026-06

Plain-language summary

This research study investigates the feasibility and efficacy of a personalized, closed-loop electroencephalogram-transcranial electrical stimulation (EEG-tES) intervention for individuals with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), addressing the inconsistent results of generic brain stimulation protocols. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI)-derived insights with real-time data, the study aims to customize transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) parameters, including electrode placement, intensity, and frequency to target the specific brain regions responsible for abnormal signaling in each participant. Over the intervention period paired with computerized cognitive training, the project will evaluate improvements in learning, memory, and functional connectivity, while simultaneously identifying clinical and physiological predictors to determine the viability of transitioning this low-cost, non-invasive technology into a remotely supervised, home-based therapy setting. The study duration will be a total of 6-8 weeks.

Who can participate

Age range

45 Years – 85 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: * Must be between 45-85 years of age. * Must be right-handed. * Must be proficient in English. * Must have a minimum of high-school education. * Must be diagnosed as lvPPA with AD biomarkers. Other possible diagnosis for the 'aphasic AD' variant would be MCI or 'possible AD' according to 2011 guidelines with AD biomarkers (CSF or positron emission tomography (PET) amyloid-beta or fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) with uni-hemispheric atrophy). * Participants will be diagnosed from PPA and early dementias clinics at Johns Hopkins University or other specialized centers in US using current consensus criteria. Diagnosis will be based on neuropsychological testing, language testing (most commonly the Western Aphasia Battery), MRI and clinical assessment. The investigators will also use two new variant classification tests the investigators have developed at the lab which discriminate PPA variants with great accuracy (above 80%): a spelling test and a speech production test (i.e., Cookie Theft picture description task). Exclusion Criteria: * People with previous neurological disease including vascular dementia (e.g., stroke, developmental dyslexia, dysgraphia or attentional deficit). * People with hearing loss (\> 25 decibel, using audiometric hearing screen). * People with uncorrected visual acuity loss. * People with advanced dementia or severe language impairments (MMSE \<15, or Montreal Cognitive Assessment \<10, or language Fro…

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 auditory recall accuracy based on the sum of words recalled in Trials 1-5 of semantically related - trained word-lists

Timeframe: Before intervention, immediately after intervention and 1 month post intervention

Change in auditory delayed recall accuracy of semantically related - trained word-lists

Timeframe: Before intervention, immediately after intervention and 1 month post intervention

Change in auditory recall accuracy based on the sum of words recalled in Trials 1-5 of semantically unrelated - trained word-lists

Timeframe: Before intervention, immediately after intervention and 1 month post intervention

Change in auditory delayed recall accuracy of semantically unrelated - trained word-lists

Timeframe: Before intervention, immediately after intervention and 1 month post intervention

Change in auditory recall accuracy based the sum of words recalled in Trials 1-5 of semantically related - untrained word-lists

Timeframe: Before intervention, immediately after intervention and 1 month post intervention

Change in auditory delayed recall accuracy of semantically related - untrained word-lists

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07511179

SponsorJohns Hopkins University

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-08

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