Improving Working Memory in Older Adults

Improving Working Memory in Older Adults by Restoring Large-Scale Cortical Interactions

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.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Memory Disorders in Old Age
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation

Detailed Description

The investigators 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, it may be possible 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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 964
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
      • 111 Cummington Mall Room 264

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 80 years (Adult, Older Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion criteria

• For Experiment 1, 18-30 years
• For Experiment 2, 60-80 years
• Normal or corrected-to-normal vision
• Has color vision.

Exclusion criteria

• Metal implants in the head
• Implanted electronic devices
• A history of neurological problems or head injury
• Skin sensitivity
• Claustrophobia
• Dementia [Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score of 23 or lower; Montreal Cognitive Assessment score of <26)
• Depression [Beck Depression Inventory II score of 14 or higher; Geriatric Depression Scale score of 10 or higher]
• Taking any psychoactive medication

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

2

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Sham Comparator: sham stimulation	Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation; Low-intensity and safe, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of gradually modulating levels of neuronal excitability.
Experimental: active stimulation	Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation; Low-intensity and safe, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of gradually modulating levels of neuronal excitability.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Memory performance success (sham stimulation condition)	The accuracy of task performance (in percentage correct units) in the delayed-match-to-sample working memory paradigm	During sham intervention
Memory performance success (active stimulation condition)	The accuracy of task performance (in percentage correct unit) in the delayed-match-to-sample working memory paradigm	During active intervention
Memory performance speed (sham stimulation condition)	The reaction time of task performance (in millisecond units) in the delayed-match-to-sample working memory paradigm	During sham intervention
Memory performance speed (active stimulation condition)	The reaction time of task performance (in millisecond units) in the delayed-match-to-sample working memory paradigm	During active intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Boston University Charles River Campus
• Investigators: Principal Investigator: Robert MG Reinhart, PhD, Boston University Charles River Campus

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 30, 2026
• Study Completion (Actual): April 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: April 21, 2020
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: April 22, 2020
• First Posted (Actual): April 27, 2020

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 23, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 22, 2026
• Last Verified: July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: cognitive decline; aged-related memory; transcranial electrical current stimulation
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Mental Disorders; Neurocognitive Disorders; Cognition Disorders; Cognitive Dysfunction
• Other Study ID Numbers: 4230E

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: Yes
• product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.: No