tDCS and Cognitive Training for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Dementia
Alzheimer Disease, Mild Cognitive Impairment
About this trial
This is an interventional treatment trial for Alzheimer Disease
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria:
Participants will be included in the study if they:
- are a Veteran receiving services from the MVAHCS GRECC clinic
- have a clinical diagnosis of AD, MCI, or Mild Neurocognitive Disorder presenting as early AD type (predominantly amnestic and dysexecutive)
- are age 60 or older
- are stable on any medications for at least 1 month at the baseline visit
- demonstrate capacity to provide informed consent
- have WiFi access in their home
- have a family member or friend willing to serve as a care partner (care partner needs to have a minimum of 10 hours per week that they see the participant, if they don't live with them).
Exclusion Criteria:
Persons will be excluded from this study if they have:
- any significant medical disorder based on the Principal Investigator's judgment that would impact risk
- other psychiatric or neurological conditions that impact cognition
- metallic cranial plates/screws or implanted devices above the clavicle
- eczema on scalp or other scalp lesions or skin disorders that may become irritated by stimulation
Sites / Locations
- Minneapolis VA Health Care SystemRecruiting
Arms of the Study
Arm 1
Arm 2
Experimental
Sham Comparator
Active tDCS
Sham tDCS
Participants will receive 10 sessions of cognitive training concurrent with transcranial direct current stimulation (anode over left frontal cortex, cathode over right frontal cortex; 2 mAmps for 20 minutes).
Participants will receive 10 sessions of cognitive training concurrent with sham tDCS. For sham tDCS, electrodes are placed at the same locations as for active tDCS, but current is ramped up for the initial 30 secs, then immediately ramped back down. This ramp up/down method is done at the end of the stimulation period, as well. This method mimics the physical sensation of stimulation typically encountered at the very beginning and end of the intervention period.