Improving Working Memory in Older Adults

Boston University Charles River Campus

Status

Completed

Conditions

Large-scale Physiological Foundations of Memory Decline in Aging Humans

Treatments

Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation

Study type

Interventional

Funder types

Other

Identifiers

NCT04362696

4230E

Details and patient eligibility

About

The research program will evaluate the theoretical claim that age-related memory and cognitive decline in humans result from the inefficient orchestration of rhythmic activity within large-scale cortical networks. The results will contribute to the basic science groundwork for developing future non-pharmacological interventions aimed at boosting memory and cognition in aging and clinical populations.

Full description

We hypothesize that aged-related memory and cognitive impairments emerge from large-scale functional dysconnectivity, and by stimulating the brain noninvasively with extremely weak levels of electrical current, we may be able to re-synchronize connectivity and stabilize or improve memory and cognitive function, measured behaviorally. The experiments of this project are proposed as between-subjects, sham-controlled, and double-blind in design, and use noninvasive electroencephalographic (EEG) measurements of rhythmic brain activity. The experimental intervention involves the application of low-intensity, high-definition, transcranial electrical current stimulation while subjects perform a variety of computer-based tasks that probe memory and cognitive function.

Enrollment

964 patients

Sex

All

Ages

18 to 80 years old

Volunteers

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

The following general inclusion criteria apply to all subjects: must be between the ages of 68-80 (except for Experiment 1 where subjects must be between the ages of 18-30), have normal or corrected-to-normal vision, color vision, nonpregnant, no metal implants in head, no implanted electronic devices, no history of neurological problems or head injury, no skin sensitivity, no claustrophobia, no dementia (normal Mini Mental State Examination between 24-30; Montreal Cognitive Assessment > 25), no depression (normal Beck Depression Inventory II <13; Geriatric Depression Scale < 10), and cannot be taking any psychoactive medication.