tDCS Effects on Brain Plasticity in Aphasia Treatment

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Status: Enrolling

Conditions: Stroke; Aphasia

Treatments: Device: Sham tDCS; Device: Real tDCS

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05483556

HSEARS20220211001

Details and patient eligibility

About

The efficacy of conventional speech therapy alone for aphasia recovery is inconclusive. The prospective study will monitor the effects of combined language therapy and tDCS through structural and functional MRI.

Full description

The efficacy of conventional speech therapy alone for aphasia recovery is inconclusive. The prospective study will monitor the effects of combined language therapy and tDCS through structural and functional MRI.

This randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded pilot study will recruit ten chronic stroke patients with Broca's Aphasia randomly assigned either to sham or an anodal tDCS groups. Following speech and language assessment, all the participants will receive 20 minutes of individualized language therapy daily for ten days in two consecutive weeks. Simultaneously, the treatment group will receive 20 minutes of 2mA anodal HD-tDCS over the left IFG, while the sham group will receive the 30s of 2mA anodal HD-tDCS. Structural, resting state and task activated functional MRI will be performed. Data acquisition will be performed before, immediately after and two months after the treatment.

Repeated measure ANOVA for changes in picture-naming accuracy and response time will be performed as a within-subject factor between sham and anodal tDCS. Pearson's correlation coefficient of left IFG and its homolog in the right hemisphere through Independent component analysis (ICA) of low-frequency fluctuations in resting-state and task activated state will be compared for functional connectivity analysis for IFG and other major languages hubs for oral language production between groups.

Enrollment: 10 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 65 years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. History of a single unilateral left-hemispheric stroke,
2. Right handedness
3. Demonstrated features of Broca's Aphasia
4. Cantonese speaker
5. Comprehension sufficient to carry out tasks
6. No history of other neurological diseases

Exclusion criteria

1. Aphasia due to reasons other than Stroke, Traumatic brain injury
2. Bilateral or multiple brain lesions
3. Wernicke's aphasia and other speech disorders, degenerative, psychiatric or metabolic disorders
4. Deaf, blind, pregnant/ or preparing for pregnancy, cognitive issues, tattoos
5. Have cochlear implants, pacemaker, surgical nails for bone fracture, artificial joints, dental braces, dentures
6. Taking anti-depressant medications

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Double Blind

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10 participants in 2 patient groups

Real tDCS

Experimental group

Description:

Five post-stroke patients will be allocated by the flip the coin method to the experimental group. Participants will receive anodal tDCS stimulation for 20 minutes

Treatment:

Device: Real tDCS

Sham tDCS

Sham Comparator group

Description:

Five participants will be allocated by the flip coin method to the sham comparator group. Participants will receive the tDCS stimulation for the 30s

Treatment:

Device: Sham tDCS