Neural Control of Gait & Navigation in ADRD, Aim 3 Clinical Trial
University of Florida
Summary
Brain network segregation, or independent functioning, declines with age and is associated with slower walking speed. Here, the investigators will determine the extent to which brain vestibular network segregation can be altered with bilateral vestibular cortical transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in older adults with subjective cognitive decline. Participants will be randomly assigned to an active or sham stimulation condition. They will receive three, 20-minute sessions of tDCS while they are walking and performing cognitive tasks. MRI of the brain will be acquired before and after these three sessions.
Description
The investigators will conduct this experiment with individuals that have subjective cognitive decline. At pre- and post-test, they will receive structural MRI and resting state fMRI so that we can quantify brain vestibular-motor and vestibular-hippocampal network segregation. These will serve as the primary outcome metrics. Participants will perform a walking + spatial navigation task. Their performance in the first 15 minutes will count as their pre-test behavioral score (gait speed, gait variability, navigation path integration task error). Participants will then receive either sham or act…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 65–89 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Community dwelling men and women 18-35 years old or 65-89 years old * Ability to walk unassisted for ten minutes * Willingness to undergo all testing procedures * English speaking Additional Inclusion Criteria for those with SCD * Subjective report of cognitive complaints with scores \>16 on the Cognitive Change Index (CCI-20), a validated scale of subjective cognitive decline (Saykin et al., 2013). This scale consists of 20 items that are rated on 5 point Likert scale, where 1= "Normal: No change compared to 5 years ago", 3= "Mild Problem: Some change compared to 5 year…
Interventions
- DeviceTranscranial direct current stimulation
2mA transcranial direct current stimulation, applied bilaterally on the scalp, over the brain vestibular cortex
Location
- University of FloridaGainesville, Florida