A Mechanistic Study to Investigate tDCS and Working Memory in MCI Patients
University of Florida
Summary
The current study is a mechanistic study to evaluate working memory gains from application of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in older adults with mild cognitive impairments (MCI) compared to cognitively healthy control
Description
The current study is a mechanistic study to evaluate working memory gains with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in older adults with mild cognitive impairments (MCI) compared to cognitively healthy control. This study is funded by a mentored career award (The University of Florida, Clinical and Translational Science Institute \[CTSI\] Pilot Award) and thus the mentors (Drs. Cohen, DeKosky, Woods, Fang) are listed as additional Principal Investigators in this study. The proposed study investigates the effects of acute (one-time) tDCS application on working memory gains (i.e., beha…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 60–95 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria * Age 60-95 years * Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score 18 and above (scores will be adjusted for education) * Able to receive electrical stimulation * Ability to comprehend conversational voices * Adequate motor capacity to operate computer mouse and click-button in-scanner * Ability to participate in the intervention and attend training sessions Exclusion Criteria * Failure to provide informed consent * Contraindications to MRI recording (e.g., any kind of ferrous metallic stents or ferrous metal objects in the body, heart valve prosthesis, or other metal implants,…
Interventions
- DeviceActive tDCS
A neuroConn MR-safe 1x1 tDCS stimulator will be used to apply 12 minutes of 2.0 mA electrical current, with 30 seconds ramps up and 30 seconds ramps down. The electrical current will be applied by using two carbon rubber electrodes (one anode, one cathode) with added ten20 conductive paste. The electrode+paste will be affixed on the participant's scalp over the frontal cortices at F3 and F4 location (EEG 10-20 system). Inflow of current (anode) will occur at F4 location, and outflow of current will occur at F3 (cathode).
- DeviceSham tDCS
Sham stimulation will be performed with the same 1x1 device. Participants will receive 2 mA of direct current stimulation for 30 seconds with 30 seconds ramps up and down. This provides the tingling and prickling sensation on the scalp associated with tDCS while prevent delivering sufficient current (12 minutes) to penetrate the skull and stimulate the brain. Prep in sham conditions will be identical to active stimulation conditions. For each stimulation condition (active, sham), each participant will perform three runs of N-back working memory task (baseline/pre-stimulation, during stimulation, and after/post-stimulation) as detailed below. Sham efficacy will be evaluated as a direct comparison in N-back performance and connectivity results in active group versus sham group.
Location
- University of FloridaGainesville, Florida