Faculty, Staff and Student Publications
Publication Date
5-5-2023
Journal
Pilot and Feasibility Studies
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Apathy is among the most common behavioral symptoms in dementia and is consistently associated with negative outcomes in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite its prevalence and clinical relevance, available pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies to treat apathy in AD have been marked, respectively, by potentially severe side effects and/or limited efficacy. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a relatively novel non-pharmacological method of neuromodulation with promising results. Compared to previous tDCS formats, recent technological advances have increased the portability of tDCS, which creates the potential for caregiver-administered, home use. Our study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of home-based tDCS for the treatment of apathy in AD.
METHODS/DESIGN: This is an experimenter- and participant-blinded, randomized, sham-controlled, parallel-group (1:1 for two groups) pilot clinical trial, involving 40 subjects with AD. After a brief training, caregivers will administer tDCS for participants at home under remote televideo supervision by research staff to ensure the use of proper technique. Participants will be assessed at baseline, during treatment (week 2, week 4, and week 6), and 6 weeks post-treatment. Dependent measures will cover cognitive performance, apathy, and other behavioral symptoms. Data about side effects and acceptability will also be collected.
DISCUSSION: Our study will address apathy, an overlooked clinical problem in AD. Our findings will advance the field of non-pharmacological strategies for neuropsychiatric symptoms, presenting a great potential for clinical translation.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04855643.
Keywords
Alzheimer’s disease, Transcranial direct current stimulation, Neuromodulation, Apathy
Included in
Diseases Commons, Infectious Disease Commons, Medical Sciences Commons, Race and Ethnicity Commons
Comments
Trial Registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04855643.
PMID: 37147739