Transcranial Pulse Stimulation of the Brain in Older Adults With and Without Mild Dementia
University of Florida
Summary
This study will investigate transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) as a method of enhancing cognitive and neural function. The study team will apply this low intensity, magnetically pulse technology to key brain regions in a randomized, sham-controlled trial (RCT). The study will determine the magnitude of changes in cognitive function and brain function and structure between a pre- and post-stimulation among 10 typically-aging older adults and 10 patients with mild dementia.
Description
The current study will investigate the use of the NEUROLITH TPS (transcranial pulse stimulation) generator device (Storz Medical AG, Tägerwilen, Switzerland) for enhancing cognitive and neural function in older adults with and without mild Alzheimer's disease (AD). This will be achieved by applying a novel, low intensity, magnetically pulsed technology to key brain regions and networks in a randomized, sham-controlled trial (RCT). The pilot RCT will be conducted to determine the magnitude of changes in cognitive function and brain function and structure between a pre- and post-stimulation usin…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 65–84 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- No
Inclusion Criteria: * Men and women * Age: 65 to 84 years * English speaking * Physically mobile with no history of balance difficulties or major falls * For the typically-aging older adult group, phone screening performance on the TICS must be greater than or equal to 33 points, and cognitive performance of 26 points or greater on the MoCA and a Sum of Boxes score of 0 on the Clinical Dementia Rating scale administered to the participant's informant at the initial visit * For the Mild dementia group, phone screening performance on the TICS must be between 21 and 32 points, and subsequent cog…
Interventions
- DeviceNeurolith Transcranial Pulse Stimulation Active
5hz (200-300 milliseconds) stimulation pulses transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) will be applied to each of the following five regions twice per session in sequential order with the specified stimulation parameters: left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal cortex extending to Broca's area (2x800 pulses), right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and inferior frontal cortex extending to Broca's area (2x800 pulses; ROI volume \~136/164 cms), the left lateral parietal cortex extending to Wernicke's area (2x400 pulses; ROI volume \~122/147 cms), the right lateral parietal cortex extending to Wernicke's area (2x400 pulses; ROI volume \~122/147 cms), and the extended precuneus cortex (2x600 pulses; ROI volume 66/92 cms). With a repetition time of 5hz (0.00333 seconds) per pulse at a total of 6,000 pulses per participant, the duration of stimulation is about 20 minutes, not including transition time between ROI localization.
- DeviceNeurolith Transcranial Pulse Stimulation Sham
The intervention procedure described in the Active condition above will also be repeated in participants randomized to the Sham procedure, with the exception of the insertion of a lens over the device by the interventionist to prevent stimulation from reaching the brain.
Location
- University of FloridaGainesville, Florida