We're building a better ClinicalTrials.gov. Check it out and tell us what you think!
Try the New Site
We're building a modernized ClinicalTrials.gov! Visit Beta.ClinicalTrials.gov to try the new functionality.
Working…
ClinicalTrials.gov
ClinicalTrials.gov Menu

Gamma tACS in Alzheimer's Disease (GammAD)

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04515433
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : August 17, 2020
Last Update Posted : March 19, 2021
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Barbara Borroni, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia

Study Description
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information
Brief Summary:

Brain oscillations are ubiquitous in the human brain and have been implicated in cognitive and behavioral states defined in precisely tuned neural networks. In neurodegenerative disorders, neurodegeneration is accompanied by changes in oscillatory activity leading to the emerging concept of neurological and psychiatric disorders as "oscillopathies". Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for the vast majority of age-related dementias, is characterised by a prominent disruption of oscillations in the gamma frequency band. The restoration of gamma oscillations by neural entrainment in animal models of Alzheimer's disease have shown a remarkable decrease in the pathological burden of amyloid and tau via increased microglial activity, resulting in a significant increase of cognitive performances.

Transcranial alternating current brain stimulation (tACS), is a neurophysiological method of non-invasive modulation of the excitability of the central nervous system that is having an increasingly numerous spectrum of potential therapeutic applications. Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this method in modulating the natural frequencies of cerebral oscillation, underlying multiple cognitive processes such as verbal memory, perception and working memory.

On the basis of these premises, the treatment with gamma tACS is proposed in patients affected by Alzheimer's disease.

In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, cross-over study, the investigators will evaluate whether a single stimulation with gamma tACS on the posterior parietal cortex can improve symptoms in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer's disease.


Condition or disease Intervention/treatment Phase
Alzheimer Disease Device: Gamma tACS (40 Hz) over the superior parietal cortex Not Applicable

Detailed Description:

Brain oscillations are ubiquitous in the human brain and have been implicated in cognitive and behavioral states defined in precisely tuned neural networks. In neurodegenerative disorders, neurodegeneration is accompanied by changes in oscillatory activity leading to the emerging concept of neurological and psychiatric disorders as "oscillopathies". Alzheimer's disease, which accounts for the vast majority of age-related dementias, is characterised by a prominent disruption of oscillations in the gamma frequency band. The restoration of gamma oscillations by neural entrainment in animal models of Alzheimer's disease have shown a remarkable decrease in the pathological burden of amyloid and tau via increased microglial activity, resulting in a significant increase of cognitive performances.

Transcranial alternating current brain stimulation (tACS), is a neurophysiological method of non-invasive modulation of the excitability of the central nervous system that is having an increasingly numerous spectrum of potential therapeutic applications. Recent studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of this method in modulating the natural frequencies of cerebral oscillation, underlying multiple cognitive processes such as verbal memory, perception and working memory.

On the basis of these premises, the treatment with gamma tACS is proposed in patients affected by Alzheimer's disease.

In this randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, cross-over study, the investigators will evaluate whether a single stimulation with gamma tACS on the posterior parietal cortex can improve symptoms in patients with Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer's disease.

Subjects will be randomized in two groups, one receiving a single treatment with gamma tACS (40 Hz) first and the other receiving sham stimulation. After one week the treatments will be exchanged. Patients will be evaluated with neuropsychological tests and neurophysiological measures of cholinergic transmission.

Study Design
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Layout table for study information
Study Type : Interventional  (Clinical Trial)
Actual Enrollment : 20 participants
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Quadruple (Participant, Care Provider, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)
Primary Purpose: Treatment
Official Title: Interventional Cross-over Study to Evaluate the Efficacy on Cognitive Performance of Alternating Current Brain Stimulation (tACS) in Patients Suffering From Neurodegenerative Diseases
Actual Study Start Date : August 20, 2020
Actual Primary Completion Date : September 30, 2020
Actual Study Completion Date : September 30, 2020

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine


Arms and Interventions
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Arm Intervention/treatment
Experimental: real tACS
Single session of gamma tACS (40 Hz) at 3 mA over the superior parietal cortex (Precuneus)
 Device: Gamma tACS (40 Hz) over the superior parietal cortex
Single session of gamma tACS (40 Hz) over the superior parietal cortex
Placebo Comparator: sham tACS
Single session of sham tACS over the superior parietal cortex (Precuneus)
 Device: Gamma tACS (40 Hz) over the superior parietal cortex
Single session of gamma tACS (40 Hz) over the superior parietal cortex


Outcome Measures
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Changes in Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test scores [ Time Frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention) - Immediately after the intervention ]

    Participants are given a list of 15 unrelated words repeated over five different trials and are asked to repeat. Another list of 15 unrelated words are given and the patient must again repeat the original list of 15 words and then again after 30 minutes.

    The score ranges from 0 (worse performance) to 15 (best performance).


  2. Changes in Face-Name Associative Memory Test scores [ Time Frame: During the intervention ]

    The Face-Name Associative Memory Test is a cross-modal associative memory test, it includes 20 face-name pairs. The administration procedure starts with the presentation of 20 faces with each name and participants should read the name underneath the faces and try to learn each face-name pair. After 5 minutes, the faces are shown one by one and participants are asked to recall the associated names from 4 different names. The correct number of pairs recalled is recorded.

    The score ranges from 0 (worse performance) to 20 (best performance).



Secondary Outcome Measures :
  1. Change in SAI measurements [ Time Frame: Baseline (immediately before the intervention) - Immediately after the intervention ]
    By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of gamma tACS on short latency afferent inhibition (SAI), which is a marker of cholinergic transmission.


Eligibility Criteria
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

Choosing to participate in a study is an important personal decision. Talk with your doctor and family members or friends about deciding to join a study. To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contacts provided below. For general information, Learn About Clinical Studies.


Layout table for eligibility information
Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years and older   (Adult, Older Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

- Mild Cognitive Impairment due to Alzheimer's disease (according to Albert et al., Alzheimers Dement 2011).

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Cerebrovascular disorders, previous stroke, hydrocephalus, and intra-cranial mass documented by MRI.
  • History of traumatic brain injury or other neurological diseases.
  • Serious medical illness other than FTD
  • History of seizures
  • Pregnancy
  • Metal implants in the head (except dental fillings)
  • Electronic implants (i.e. pace-maker, implanted medical pump)
  • Age <18 years
Contacts and Locations
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT04515433


Locations
Layout table for location information
Italy
AO Spedali Civili
Brescia, BS, Italy, 25100
Sponsors and Collaborators
Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia
Investigators
Layout table for investigator information
Principal Investigator: Barbara Borroni, MD Azienda Ospedaliera Spedali Civili, Brescia
Principal Investigator: Alberto Benussi, MD Azienda Ospedaliera Spedali Civili, Brescia
  Study Documents (Full-Text)

Documents provided by Barbara Borroni, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia:
Study Protocol and Statistical Analysis Plan  [PDF] December 17, 2019

More Information
Go to 
Top of Page Study Description Study Design Arms and Interventions Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information
Publications:

Layout table for additonal information
Responsible Party: Barbara Borroni, Professor, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04515433    
Other Study ID Numbers: NP3847
First Posted: August 17, 2020    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: March 19, 2021
Last Verified: March 2021
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
Plan to Share IPD: Yes
Plan Description: All data, including outcome measure results, study protocol and statistical analysis plan, will be shared upon reasonable request.
Supporting Materials: Study Protocol
Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP)
Time Frame: Data will be shared after the study completion indefinitely.
Access Criteria: Reasonable request

Layout table for additional information
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No
Keywords provided by Barbara Borroni, Azienda Socio Sanitaria Territoriale degli Spedali Civili di Brescia:
Alzheimer's disease
transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation
tACS
Gamma stimulation
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
Layout table for MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease
Dementia
Brain Diseases
Central Nervous System Diseases
Nervous System Diseases
 Tauopathies
Neurodegenerative Diseases
Neurocognitive Disorders
Mental Disorders