Effects of Brain Stimulation During Nocturnal Sleep on Memory Consolidation in Patients With Mild Cognitive Impairments

Charité University Medicine Berlin

Status: Withdrawn

Conditions: Mild Cognitive Impairment, So Stated

Treatments: Device: SHAM; Device: Stimulation

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT01782391

Nighttime sleep-tSOS-MCI

Details and patient eligibility

About

The beneficial effect of nocturnal sleep on memory consolidation is well-documented in young, healthy subjects. Especially, periods rich in slow-wave sleep (SWS) have shown a memory enhancing effect on hippocampus-dependent declarative memory. Slow oscillatory activity typically occuring during SWS has been implicated in the consolidation effect. Recent evidence in young healthy subjects suggest that the sleep-associated consolidation effect can be amplified by the application of a weak transcranial oscillatory electric current within the frequency range of SWS in humans (0,7-0,8 Hz) during SWS. If patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairments (MCI)- usually characterized by initial difficulties in hippocampus dependent memory functions - benefit from transcranial slow oscillatory stimulation (tSOS) during nocturnal sleep as well has not been studied so far. The primary aim of the present study is to investigate the influence of a weak slow oscillating brain stimulation (tSOS) on declarative memory consolidation applied during periods of nocturnal SWS in MCI patients.

Sex: All

Ages: 50 to 90 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• amnestic and amnestic plus MCI-patients:

  1. Concern reflecting a change in cognition reported by patient or informant or clinician (i.e., historical or observed evidence of decline over time)
  2. Objective evidence of memory impairment; additional cognitive domains may be affected as well;
  3. Preservation of independence in functional abilities
  4. no dementia

• age: 50-90 years

Exclusion criteria

• untreated severe internal or psychiatric diseases
• epilepsy
• other severe neurological diseases eg., previous major stroke, brain tumour
• dementia
• contraindications to MRI

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Crossover Assignment

Masking: Triple Blind

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0 participants in 2 patient groups

0,75 Hz stimulation

Experimental group

Description:

slow transcranial oscillating stimulation (\~0,75Hz) during periods of Slow Wave Sleep

Treatment:

Device: Stimulation

SHAM stimulation

Sham Comparator group

Description:

SHAM stimulation during periods of Slow Wave Sleep

Treatment:

Device: SHAM