Adaptive Neuromodulation of Working Memory Networks in Aging and Dementia
Duke University
Summary
The proposed research will use closed-loop transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) based on individualized brain networks to establish parameters that can reliably control brain states. This will be tested in healthy aging and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) cohorts. The investigators will study network activation and neural oscillatory mechanisms underlying the network that regulates working memory and then target this network using closed-loop TMS to the Prefrontal Cortex. Investigators will measure the impact of TMS on working memory performance and task-based neural activity. The project will use brain stimulation and network modeling techniques to enhance working memory in healthy older adults and MCI and will demonstrate the value of closed-loop, network-guided TMS for future clinical applications.
Description
Dementia due to Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a leading public health concern in the US with enormous care costs and no effective pharmacotherapy despite multiple clinical trials. Multiple studies have shown mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to be a precursor risk for AD and to be more amenable to intervention. While preclinical studies have shown that directly modulating activity in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) using non-invasive brain stimulation techniques, such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), can modulate cognitive function in healthy older adults, there is little evidence of reliab…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18–75 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * English Speaking * Willing to provide consent Exclusion Criteria: * History of any Axis I DSM-V disorder, excluding major depressive disorder or generalized anxiety disorders * Current history of substance abuse or dependence (excluding nicotine) * Intracranial implants (e.g. aneurysms clips, shunts, stimulators, cochlear implants, or electrodes), cardiac pacemakers, or vagus Nerve stimulation device * Increased risk of seizure for any reason, including prior diagnosis of epilepsy, seizure disorder, increased intracranial pressure, or history of significant head trauma…
Interventions
- DeviceTranscranial Magnetic Stimulation
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is a noninvasive procedure that uses magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve a variety of cognitive conditions, and to probe the dynamics of normal brain function.
Location
- Duke University HospitalDurham, North Carolina