CogT BEEM Study (a tDCS Study)

This is an interventional basic science trial for Mild Cognitive Impairment Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Forty subjects with MCI and comorbid NPS, which have worsened in the past 2 years (as rated by their study-partner's responses to the NPI-Q):

1. In the past month, presence of > 2 symptoms; and
2. Compared to two years ago, having > 1 pre-exist symptom whose severity rating has worsened, or having > 1 new symptom; 2. Consensus diagnosis of "mild cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer's disease" based on 2011 NIA-AA diagnostic criteria by the investigators based on screening information: i. Memory deficits at screening: 1 standard deviation (SD) below age- and/or education- corrected population norms for the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT, Lists C&D); ii. Global memory deficits at screening: Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA, Version 2) total score within the range 18 ≤ x ≤ 26, after educational adjustment; iii. Preserved activity of daily living: ADL-PI-self total score ≤ 30; iv. Absence of dementia. 3. Stable (same dosage, frequency, type) on memory medications for ≥ 3 months before screening; 4. Stable (same dosage, frequency, type) on any anti-depressants, antipsychotics, and/or anxiolytics for ≥ 7 days; 5. Community-dwelling: Subjects live in homes or independent- and assisted- living facilities (i.e. - not nursing home residents, due to the large cognitive variability in nursing home residents); 6. Aged 60-89 years at screening; 7. English-speaking; 8. Adequate visual and hearing acuity for testing; 9. Verified tDCS and MRI safety: Subject should not have any contraindications to either and pass safety screening questions for both (see exclusion section for more information); 10. Capacity to consent, based on responses and ratings to the UCSD Brief Assessment of Capacity to Consent (UBACC) form modified for this study 11. Availability of a study partner who spends at least several hours per week with the subject, supervises his/her care, and who is willing to accompany the subject to some study visits and participate in the study; 12. Informed consent for study participation obtained by both the subject and his/her study partner; 13. Agree to donate 20mL of blood at baseline, after fasting for at least 8 hours (only water and prescribed medicines)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Participants may be excluded from enrollment, or have their enrollment deferred until they are eligible, for the reasons listed below. Final decisions regarding enrollment will be determined by the PI on a case-by-case basis.

  1. Presence of any neurological or vascular disorders (e.g. - Multiple Sclerosis [MS], Traumatic Brain Injury [TBI], chronic heart failure [CHF], Parkinson's disease [PD]);
  2. Clinical diagnosis of dementia as defined by the most recent version of the DSM;
  3. Current enrollment in another study aimed at improving cognitive abilities and/or emotional well-being;
  4. MRI contraindications (e.g. - pacemaker, implantable cardioverter defibrillator [ICD], aneurysm clips, severe claustrophobia);
  5. tDCS contraindications (e.g. - scalp or skin condition, history of migraines, seizures or epilepsy, and/or strokes, TBI), metallic implants, history of adverse effects to previous tDCS or other brain stimulation techniques).