Enhancing Memory in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Early Stage Alzheimer's Disease

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators have developed a low-risk transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES) treatment that has improved learning and performance in young adults up to nearly 4 times when compared with a sham control. This randomized pilot trial will determine if this same tES protocol improves memory in older adults (50-90 years old) who are healthy, and separately in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or early stage Alzheimer's disease (AD). TES will be applied to the right temple and left arm for up to 40 minutes. MRI images, along with other measures, may be obtained before and after tES. If effective, this intervention may help to improve the quality of life for AD patients and their families.

Official Title
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Modern Energetic Methods of Response Improvement (MEMORI)

Conditions
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Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment

Intervention / Treatment
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* Device: North Coast Medical Activadose II


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Inclusion criteria for healthy participants: 50-90 years of age, as verified via photo identification with date of birth. Should be right-handed and learned English by seven years old. Generally healthy Inclusion criteria for participants with MCI or AD: 50-90 years of age, as verified via photo identification with date of birth. Should be right-handed and learned English by seven years old. Is legally able to sign the consent form on their own behalf, or has a legally authorized representative that is able to sign. Has a caregiver that can assist with taking health history. Exclusion Criteria: Exclusion criteria for healthy participants: Significant history of psychiatric disorders or current psychosis including self-report or Geriatric Depression Scale short form score-GDS >5 if uncertain. Current excessive drug, alcohol or nicotine use defined by participant self-report. History of epilepsy, migraines, severe stroke, or traumatic brain injury. Taking medications with significant psychotropic effects. Severe sensory impairment. Severe chronic illness where participation in the study could put participants at an unusual level of risk. Chronic conditions will be evaluated on a case by case basis as they arise. Severe subjective cognitive concerns. Requires a helper animal. Has sufficient prior experience with neurostimulation that might unblind or alter the results. Has metal or electronic implants that may be sensitive to stimulation or could interfere with stimulation or be an MRI contraindication, or has any other MRI contraindication. Has sensitivity to components of tES electrodes being used (typically nickel or latex). Feels ill or have any potential COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever or chills, cough, difficulty breathing, overly tired, unusual aches or pains including headache or sore throat, recent or unusual (for them) loss of taste or smell, congestion or runny nose, nausea or diarrhea. Exclusion criteria for participants with MCI or AD: Significant history of psychiatric disorders or current psychosis not related to a neurodegenerative condition. Current excessive drug, alcohol or nicotine use. Significant history of epilepsy, stroke, or traumatic brain injury. Taking medications with significant psychotropic effects, not related to neurodegenerative condition Severe sensory impairment Severe chronic illness where participation in the study could put participants at an unusual level of risk. Chronic conditions will be evaluated on a case by case basis as they arise. Requires a helper animal. Has sufficient prior experience with neurostimulation that might unblind or alter the results. Has metal or electronic implants that may be sensitive to stimulation or could interfere with stimulation. Has sensitivity to components of tES electrodes being used (typically nickel or latex). Feels ill or have any potential COVID-19 symptoms, such as fever or chills, cough, difficulty breathing, overly tired, unusual aches or pains including headache or sore throat, unusual loss of taste or smell, or unusual (for them) congestion or runny nose, nausea or diarrhea.

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 50 Years
Maximum Age: 90 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Quadruple


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Full Current tES<br>TES delivered with the anode over the right temple and cathode on the left arm, at an intensity of up to 4 milliamps, delivered for up to 40 minutes. | Device: North Coast Medical Activadose II<br>* tES device model Activadose II (North Coast Medical, Morgan Hill, CA, USA) programed to deliver tES.<br>|
| Placebo Comparator: Partial Current tES<br>TES delivered with the anode over the right temple and cathode on the left arm, at an intensity of 0.1 milliamp, delivered for up to 40 minutes. | Device: North Coast Medical Activadose II<br>* tES device model Activadose II (North Coast Medical, Morgan Hill, CA, USA) programed to deliver tES.<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Learning Task Performance | Performance accuracy on a complex visual learning and categorization task after full-current tES in comparison to partial-current tES. | Within one hour after treatment | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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Memory, Dementia, Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)