Noninvasive Brain Stimulation on Memory in Individuals With Mild Cognitive Impairment and History of Brain Injury

December 19, 2025 updated by: Christian Lobue, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation on Episodic Memory in Individuals With Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment and History of TBI

The study will examine the efficacy of high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and its influence on episodic memory in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and a history of Traumatic brain injury. Ten sessions of HD-tDCS to the dorsal anterior cingulate region is expected to result in improvements in episodic memory measures immediately following the last session and at a 3-month follow-up.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Completed

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
26

Phase

Phase

The stage of a clinical trial studying a drug or biological product, based on definitions developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The phase is based on the study's objective, the number of participants, and other characteristics. There are five phases: Early Phase 1 (formerly listed as Phase 0), Phase 1, Phase 2, Phase 3, and Phase 4. Not Applicable is used to describe trials without FDA-defined phases, including trials of devices or behavioral interventions.
  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • United States
    • Texas
      • Dallas, Texas, United States, 75390
        • University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

50 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Age 50 and older
  • Native English speakers
  • 12 years of education or higher
  • Active diagnosis of aMCI
  • History of TBI based on VA/DOD criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

  • TBI within the past 2 years
  • Lifetime history of stroke, transient ischemic attack, heart attack, or congestive heart failure
  • Lifetime history of epilepsy
  • Major psychiatric disorders (i.e., posttraumatic stress disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia)
  • Substance use disorder
  • Has metal fragments in head
  • Taking medications that may interact with the HD-tDCS effect (i.e., amphetamines, L-dopa, carbamazepine, sulpiride, pergolide, lorazepam, dextromethorphan, D-cycloserine, flunarizine, or ropinirole)

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Double

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm

Participant Group / Arm

A group or subgroup of participants in a clinical trial that receives a specific intervention/treatment, or no intervention, according to the trial's protocol.
Intervention / Treatment

Intervention / Treatment

A process or action that is the focus of a clinical study. Interventions include drugs, medical devices, procedures, vaccines, and other products that are either investigational or already available. Interventions can also include noninvasive approaches, such as education or modifying diet and exercise.
Active Comparator: Active HD-tDCS
Participants will receive 10 sessions of active stimulation (1 mA anodal HD-tDCS targeting dorsal anterior cingulate region for 20 minutes) across 2 weeks, with episodic memory tasks completed at baseline, immediate follow-up after session 10, and a 3-month follow-up.
Device: High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
This wireless device delivers a very low electrical current to focused regions on the scalp in order to modulate underlying brain circuits to promote neuroplasticity. The device will be fitted onto a neoprene EEG cap, with 1 anode electrode placed and surrounded by 4 cathode electrodes in a ring pattern. Electrical stimulation will be applied using a constant voltage cortical stimulator (Model D185, Digitimer Ltd, UK, maximal output 1000 V/1.5 A) with single square-wave 50-μs pulses (0.1 A/μs rise time).
Sham Comparator: Sham HD-tDCS
Participants will receive 10 sessions of sham stimulation across 2 weeks, with episodic memory tasks completed at baseline, immediate follow-up after session 10, and a 3-month follow-up.
Device: Sham HD-tDCS
Sham HD-tDCS

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised Total Learning
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately following last HD-tDCS session, and again at 3-month follow-up
Episodic verbal memory will be assessed with the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R). The HVLT-R is a verbal episodic memory task where a list of 12 words is read aloud for 3 consecutive trials followed by a 20 minute delayed recall trial. The number of items recalled immediately after each trial are summed to create a total learning score, ranging from 0-36. Also, the number of items recalled for the delayed trial are recorded as a delayed recall score, ranging from 0-12. Scores were converted to standardized scores (T-scores) using normative data, ranging from 2-86. Higher scores reflect better episodic memory performance.
Baseline, immediately following last HD-tDCS session, and again at 3-month follow-up
Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised Delayed Recall
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately following the last HD-tDCS session, and a 3-month follow-up
Episodic verbal memory will be assessed with the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R). The HVLT-R is a verbal episodic memory task where a list of 12 words is read aloud for 3 consecutive trials followed by a 20 minute delayed recall trial. The number of items recalled immediately after each trial are summed to create a total learning score, ranging from 0-36. Also, the number of items recalled for the delayed trial are recorded as a delayed recall score, ranging from 0-12. Scores were converted to standardized scores (T-scores) using normative data, ranging from 2-86. Higher scores reflect better episodic memory performance.
Baseline, immediately following the last HD-tDCS session, and a 3-month follow-up
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R) Total Learning
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-treatment, and a 3 -month follow-up
Episodic verbal memory will be assessed with the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R). The BVMT-R is a visual episodic memory task where where an array of 6 simple geometric visual designs are presented in a 2 x 3 matrix for 10 seconds for 3 trials. The number of items recalled immediately after each trial are summed for accuracy and placement to create a total learning score, ranging from 0-36. Also, the number of items recalled for the delayed trial are recorded as a delayed recall score, ranging from 0-12. Scores were converted to standardized scores (T-scores) using normative data, ranging from 2-86. Higher scores reflect better episodic memory performance.
Baseline, immediately post-treatment, and a 3 -month follow-up
Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised Delayed Recall
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up
Episodic verbal memory will be assessed with the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test-Revised (BVMT-R). The BVMT-R is a visual episodic memory task where where an array of 6 simple geometric visual designs are presented in a 2 x 3 matrix for 10 seconds for 3 trials. The number of items recalled immediately after each trial are summed for accuracy and placement to create a total learning score, ranging from 0-36. Also, the number of items recalled for the delayed trial are recorded as a delayed recall score, ranging from 0-12. Scores were converted to standardized scores (T-scores) using normative data, ranging from 2-86. Higher scores reflect better episodic memory performance.
Baseline, immediately post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Phonemic Fluency
Time Frame: Baseline, immediately post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up
The phonemic verbal fluency task is a measure of language. The subject is required to name as many words as possible that begin with specified letters within 1 minute. Three different letter trials are completed. The outcome measure for this task is the total number of correct responses across the trials, ranging from 0-90. Scores were converted to standardized scores (T-scores) using normative data, ranging from 2-86. Higher scores reflect better performance.
Baseline, immediately post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up
Semantic Fluency
Time Frame: Baseline, immediate post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up
The semantic verbal fluency task is a measure of language and involves 3 conditions. The subject is required to name as many animals as possible within 1 minute. The outcome measure for this task is the total number of correct responses, ranging from 0-90. Scores were converted to standardized scores (T-scores) using normative data, ranging from 2-86. Higher scores reflect better performance.
Baseline, immediate post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up
Trail Making Test
Time Frame: Baseline, immediate post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up
The Trail Making Test is a measure of cognitive flexibility and executive functions. The task requires the subject to as quickly as possible complete two conditions, involving number sequencing and then number-letter switching. The outcome measure for this task is the time in seconds to complete the number-letter switching condition, ranging from 15-300. Scores were converted to standardized scores (T-scores) using normative data, ranging from 2-86. Higher scores reflect better performance
Baseline, immediate post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up
Stroop Color and Word Test
Time Frame: Baseline, immediate post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up
The Stroop Color and Word Test is a measure of information processing speed and complex attention. The task requires the subject to as quickly as possible complete 3 conditions, involving word reading, color naming, and response inhibition. The outcome measure for this task was the response inhibition trial, which is scored as the total correct items completed in the administration time of 45 seconds, ranging from 0-100. Scores were converted to standardized scores (T-scores) using normative data, ranging from 2-86. Higher scores reflect better performance.
Baseline, immediate post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up
Digit Span Test
Time Frame: Baseline, immediate post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up
The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-4 Digit Span Test measures simple attention and working memory. The examiner reads aloud a series of numbers of increasing length, and individuals are required to repeat each series across 3 separate conditions, involving forwards, backwards, and in sequence. Each trial is scored as incorrect (0) or correct (1), and the total number of correct trials across the 3 conditions are summed, ranging from 0-48. Scores were converted to standardized scores (scaled-scores) using normative data, ranging from 1-19. Higher scores reflect better episodic memory performance
Baseline, immediate post-treatment, and a 3-month follow-up

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center

Collaborators

Collaborators

An organization other than the sponsor that provides support for a clinical study. This support may include activities related to funding, design, implementation, data analysis, or reporting.
Congressionally Directed Medical Research Programs

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
December 5, 2020

Primary Completion (Actual)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
June 16, 2024

Study Completion (Actual)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
January 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
August 5, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
August 6, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
August 7, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
January 13, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
December 19, 2025

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
December 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • STU-2019-1769
  • CDMRP-AZ190088 (Other Grant/Funding Number: CDMRP)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

There is a plan to upload study data to the FITBIR repository system within one year of completion.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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