Remotely Supervised Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)
Primary Progressive Aphasia
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Primary Progressive Aphasia focused on measuring Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: Primary progressive aphasia diagnosis (logopenic or semantic variant) Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) score < -1.0 SD, serving as a literacy proxy for premorbid cognitive ability and ensuring English language fluency sufficient for participation in the study procedures. WAIS-IV Matrix Reasoning T score < 20, serving as an index of current general cognitive functioning to exclude those with severe cognitive impairment Stable and continuous access to internet service, email (WiFi "hotspot" to be provided if needed) Fluent in English language (due to outcomes validated in English versions only) Exclusion Criteria: Disorder other than PPA known to cause language dysfunction Diagnosis of nonfluent/agrammatic subtype of primary progressive aphasia History of traumatic brain injury Uncontrolled seizure disorder and/or recent (<5 years) history of seizure Metal implants in the head or neck Any skin disorder or skin sensitive area near stimulation locations Pregnant or breastfeeding
Sites / Locations
- NYU Langone Health
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Experimental
Remotely Supervised tDCS and Word-Naming Practice
At each session, the tDCS device will deliver 2.0 mA electric current for 30 minutes over the left frontotemporal lobe with focus on the inferior frontal gyrus (IFG). Participants will receive 20 intervention sessions over the course of the interventional period (4 weeks) on weekdays (Monday-Friday). During the stimulation period, participants will engage in a picture-naming exercise as guided by the study tDCS clinicians.