The Effect of tES on a Cognitive Training
Condition: Memory Impairment
MeSH terms: Memory Disorders
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of a transcranial electrical stimulation
      (tES) on a cognitive training in healthy elderly and memory impaired participants. In order
      to assess these effects different memory and attention tasks will be performed before and
      after the training as well as after 6 and 12 months.
    

Detailed description: 
      As other studies have shown, transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) can improve the
      outcome of memory tasks in Alzheimer's disease (AD), mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and
      healthy older adults. Only few studies have investigated the effect of the combination of
      tDCS and a simultaneous cognitive training and to the investigators' knowledge there is no
      comparison of tDCS and transcranial alternating current (tACS) effects during a cognitive
      training or for different populations. With results from this study existing trainings can be
      optimised. In total 180 participants are planned to be included in this study. This number is
      based on a g*Power estimation. According to this estimation the study has to include 153
      participants. Regarding similar studies the investigators assume a dropout rate of 15%
      resulting in a total of 180 participants (60 AD patients, 60 MCI patients and 60 healthy
      older adults) This number should make it possible to find the expected mild effects reported
      in literature.

      A mixed-effects ANOVA model with the between-subjects factor stimulation (tDCS, tACS, sham)
      and the within-subjects factor time will be computed.
    

Intervention name(s): real anodal tDCS healthy elderly; real tACS healthy elderly; sham tES healthy elderly; real anodal tDCS MCI; real tACS MCI; sham tES MCI; real anodal tDCS AD; real tACS AD; sham tES AD
Intervention type(s): Device; Device; Device; Device; Device; Device; Device; Device; Device
Intervention description(s): A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real anodal tDCS in the group of healthy elderly.; A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real tACS in the group of healthy elderly.; A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the sham tES in the group of healthy elderly.; A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real anodal tDCS in the MCI group.; A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real tACS in the MCI group.; A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the sham tES in the MCI group.; A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real anodal tDCS in the AD group.; A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the real tACS in the AD group.; A neuroConn DC-Stimulator PLUS (neuroCare Group, Ilmenau, Germany) will be used for the sham tES in the AD group.
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Intervention model description: Participants are allocated to one of 3 groups: real tACS, real tDCS or sham. Each participant belongs also to a subpopulation with or without memory impairment (Healthy elderly, MCI, AD)
Masking: Double (Participant, Investigator)
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Keywords: Cognitive Training; Memory Impairment; Mild Cognitive Impairment; Alzheimer's Disease; tES; tACS; tDCS