Neurostimulation for cognitive enhancement in Alzheimer's disease (the NICE-AD study): A randomized clinical trial

Emma Gulley, Joe Verghese, Helena M. Blumen, Emmeline Ayers, Cuiling Wang, Russell K. Portenoy, Jessica L. Zwerling, Erica Weiss, Helena Knotkova

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

4 Scopus citations

Abstract

New therapies for symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD) are urgently needed. Prior studies suggest that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a noninvasive neuromodulatory method, may be a safe and potentially effective treatment, but conclusions have been limited by small-sample sizes and brief stimulation protocols. This double-blind randomized trial involving 100 older adults with mild-to-moderate AD examines effects of 6 months of at-home active tDCS or sham delivered over the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. The primary outcome is global cognitive performance. Secondary outcomes include executive-control/spatial selective attention, functional neuroplasticity, depressive symptoms, quality of life and the durability of effects 3 months after the stimulation period. The results will provide evidence on the efficacy of multimonth at-home tDCS in the AD treatment. =Clinical trial identifier NCT 04404153 (Clinicaltrials.gov).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)277-288
Number of pages12
JournalNeurodegenerative disease management
Volume11
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 2021

Keywords

  • Alzheimer's disease
  • at-home tDCS
  • clinical trial protocol
  • dementia
  • noninvasive neurostimulation
  • transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Clinical Neurology

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