Diminishing Accelerated Long-term Forgetting in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Mild Cognitive Impairment, Memory Impairment, Memory Disorders in Old Age
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Mild Cognitive Impairment focused on measuring episodic memory, amnestic mild cognitive impairment, mild Alzheimer's disease, electrical stimulation, greater occipital nerve
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
- ≥50 years
- Diagnosis of probable aMCI or mild AD
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment between 18-25
- Mini Mental State Examination score >21
- Stable AChl medication >3 months
- Adequate visual and auditory acuity
- Capacity to understand and sign informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
- Any cause of cognitive decline or dementia that is not Alzheimer's disease related including parkinsonism related dementias, vascular dementia, fronto-temporal dementia.
- Enrolment in an ongoing investigational medicinal product study
- History in the past 2 years of epileptic seizures
- Any current major psychiatric disorder
- Evidence of brain damage, including significant trauma, stroke, hydrocephalus, intellectual disability, or serious neurological disorder.
- History of alcoholism or drug abuse within the last 12 months
- Medical devices not eligible for MRI scanning
Sites / Locations
- TCINRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Arm 3
Arm 4
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Active Comparator
Active Comparator
Active NITESGON
Sham NITESGON
Active NITESGON + local anesthesia
Active C5/C6
One electrode each will be placed over the left and right C2 dermatomes. A constant current will be applied during the word association task.
For sham NITESGON (inactive control), placement of the electrodes will be identical to active NITESGON. Current intensity (ramp down) will gradually be reduced as soon as NITESGON reaches a current flow of 1.5 mA. The rationale behind this sham procedure is to mimic the transient skin sensation at the beginning of active NITESGON without producing any conditioning effects on the brain.
For active NITESGON + local anesthesia (active control; local nerve anesthesia group), patients will receive NITESGON, in combination with a topical skin anesthetic (lidocaine/prilocaine cream) to reduce any potential contribution from transcutaneous stimulation of peripheral nerves. A current similar to active NITESGON will be applied.
For the active C5/C6 group (active control; same sensation different nerve), the electrodes will be placed over cervical nerves five and six, to mimic the sensation, but change the location. A current similar to active NITESGON will be applied.