Brain Stimulation and Enhancing Cognition in Older Adults
Enhancing Cognition in Older Persons: A Randomized Controlled Trial of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS).
Study Overview
Status
Conditions
Detailed Description
Neurocognitive difficulties are a common problem in the older adult population. Previous research has shown memory complaints are higher in older adults with depression or anxiety versus those without these diagnoses. This suggests that mood symptoms, or a diagnosis of a mood disorder, may represent significant predictors of cognitive impairment. If left untreated, symptoms of depression and memory complaints may lead to greater cognitive impairment, i.e. Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and diagnosis of dementia. Therefore, early interventions are urgently needed to prevent decline in memory and cognitive function in individuals with MCI, depression and/or anxiety.
Ideal interventions for the older aged population would be those that are easily accessible and associated with minimal burden on family members, the healthcare system and the individuals themselves. Mindfulness- Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) therapy and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) are two interventions that may be effective in targeting cognitive deficits in individuals with anxiety, depression and/ or cognitive complaints. MBSR has been shown to decrease symptoms of depression and improve cognition and tDCS has been shown to improve cognition in the older aged population. The effectiveness of these two interventions combined to elicit changes in cognition has yet to be demonstrated. Therefore, the overall aim of the current research is to evaluate the efficacy of a combination of MBSR and tDCS to improve cognitive function in individuals with anxiety, depression and/or cognitive complaints.
This will be a randomized pilot study. Sixteen individuals (separated into 2 groups of 8) will be randomized to receive a combination of MBSR + active tDCS or MBSR + sham tDCS over 8 weeks. Participants will visit the Healthy Mind Lab once per week for in-class group sessions and will complete the intervention daily at home for the duration of the study. Participants will be aged 60 and older with cognitive complaints, with or without symptoms of anxiety and/or depression. Participants will be trained to self-administer tDCS and given guidelines for the completion of daily MBSR activities at home. It is hypothesized that the combination of active tDCS+MBSR will enhance cognition compared to the combination of sham tDCS + MBSR.
Study Type
Enrollment (Actual)
Phase
- Not Applicable
Contacts and Locations
Study Locations
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Missouri
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Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
- Washington University School of Medicine
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Saint Louis, Missouri, United States, 63110
- Washington University in Saint Louis
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Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Genders Eligible for Study
Description
Inclusion Criteria:
- Community-dwelling men and women aged 60 or above.
- Current cognitive complaints per participant self-report, but with intact cognitive function as defined by a score of 0-9 on the Short Blessed Test (SBT) and a Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥25 per PI discretion.
- PROMIS depression scale score of greater or equal to 16 and/or PROMIS anxiety score greater or equal to 14.
- Ability to read and speak English fluently enough to complete all research assessments.
- Corrected visual ability to read newspaper headlines.
- Hearing capacity to respond to a raised conversational voice.
- Willingness and ability to provide informed consent.
Exclusion Criteria:
- The Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) criteria for current or life-time bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder.
- Untreated current post-traumatic stress disorder.
- A MoCA score <25 or SBT score >9, per PI discretion.
- Use of cognitive enhancers (namely, cholinesterase inhibitors such as donepezil; or memantine) within the past 6 weeks.
- MINI criteria for any substance abuse within 6 months that would affect their participation, per PI discretion.
- Unstable medical illness (e.g. uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or hypertension).
- Concurrent cognitive training, such as brain-training software, participation in psychotherapy or regular engagement in mindfulness practice and/or yoga.
- Taking anticonvulsant or antipsychotics that cannot be safely tapered and discontinued.
Study Plan
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Primary Purpose: Treatment
- Allocation: Randomized
- Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
- Masking: Quadruple
Arms and Interventions
Participant Group / Arm |
Intervention / Treatment |
|---|---|
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Sham Comparator: Sham tDCS and MBSR
Includes a combination of 8 weeks of in-class group MBSR + sham tDCS and daily at home MBSR + sham tDCS.
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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a form of neurostimulation (also known as neuromodulation) where very low levels of direct electrical current are delivered to specifically targeted areas of the brain, in order to increase neuroplasticity.
The direct current in active tDCS will be of 2 milliampere (mA) (current density = 0.57 A/m2), however, the device is pre-programmed to turn off after 1 minute of active stimulation (and then turn back on briefly at the end of the 30 minutes).
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Active Comparator: Active tDCS and MBSR
Includes a combination of 8 weeks of in-class group MBSR + active tDCS and daily at home MBSR + active tDCS.
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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) is a form of neurostimulation (also known as neuromodulation) where very low levels of direct electrical current are delivered to specifically targeted areas of the brain, in order to increase neuroplasticity.
The direct current in active tDCS will be of 2 mA (current density = 0.57 A/m2) and will be applied for approximately 30 minutes per day during meditative practices of the MBSR protocol.
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What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
Outcome Measure |
Measure Description |
Time Frame |
|---|---|---|
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Cognitive and Memory Function
Time Frame: 8 weeks
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NIH Toolbox Fluid Cognition Composite Score: provides a global assessment of general fluid cognition functioning. Higher scores indicate higher levels of cognitive functioning. A score at or near 100 indicates ability that is average compared with others nationally. Scores around 115 suggest above-average cognitive ability, while scores around 130 suggest superior ability ( in the top 2 percent nationally). Conversely, a score around 85 suggests below-average cognitive ability and a score in the range of 70 or below suggests significant impairment, which may also be indicative of difficulties in general functioning. Fluid abilities are used to solve problems, think and act quickly, and encode new episodic memories. They are presumed to be especially influenced by biological processes and are less dependent on past exposure (learning experiences). There is only one primary outcome. No secondary outcomes were reported. |
8 weeks
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Collaborators and Investigators
Publications and helpful links
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Actual)
Primary Completion (Actual)
Study Completion (Actual)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- ID#201805097
Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)
Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.
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