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: Recruiting
• Conditions: Large-scale Physiological Foundations of Memory Decline in Aging Humans
• Intervention / Treatment: Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation

Detailed 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.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 570
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Robert M. G. Reinhart, PhD; Phone Number: (617) 353-9481; Email: rmgr@bu.edu

Study Locations

• United States
  • Massachusetts
    • Boston, Massachusetts, United States, 02215
      • Recruiting
      • 677 Beacon St. Room 308
      • Contact: Robert M. G. Reinhart, PhD; Phone Number: (617) 353-9481; Email: rmgr@bu.edu

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

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

Description

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.

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

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2019
• Primary Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Estimated): April 30, 2024

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): October 23, 2023
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: October 18, 2023
• Last Verified: October 1, 2023

More Information

Terms related to this study

• 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