Neurofeedback to Aid Vets' Memory (TUNe)

October 14, 2025 updated by: VA Office of Research and Development

Tuning Up Memory-related Brain Potentials Using Real-time Neurofeedback in Older Veterans

Military deployment is associated with increased risk of mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Combat stress related memory deficits has been well documented. Mild cognitive impairment such as memory deficits are the most common and earliest symptoms of Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). The complaints about declined memory are common in healthy and cognitively intact civilian older adults, but less understood in aging Veterans. Brain training strategies to enhance cognitive skills and especially memory processes are unmet needs in aging Veterans who are at additional risk for MCI induced by ADRD. Since currently there is no effective drug treatment to stop cognitive decline, non-invasive brain training to boost memory functions in older Veterans is an increasingly attractive option to attenuating decline in memory.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The proposed project is poised to investigate state-of-art neurofeedback (NF; biofeedback of brain activity) training for self-modulation of neural plasticity to boost memory performance in Veterans. The recent advance of NF with Brian-Computer Interface (BCI) has provided a novel way to examine brain functions and plasticity. Thus far, there have been limited applications that have developed effective experimental and clinical paradigms for rehabilitation in Veterans. Historically, brainwave patterns during memory task performance have been analysed offline, a methodology which does not allow real-time NF modulation and training. The central hypothesis guiding this research is that optimal memory-related brainwave patterns of a Veteran can be trained. The online NF allows maximization of brainwave patterns associated with healthier memory states.

The development of efficient NF paradigms to augment memory performance is an important first step for the application of this nonpharmacologic intervention to improve combat Veterans' memory functions and potential for treating MCI due to mild TBI or pain. The pilot work will start with wider range of Veterans using state-of-the-art wearable wireless brain-computer interface headset, which is affordable and can be easily set up in VAMCs and eventually in remote assessment settings. This innovative, cognitive neuroscience based, nonpharmacologic intervention serves to revolutionize the diagnosis and treatment of combat Veterans who are at risk for degenerative dementia.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

4

Phase

  • 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
    • Kentucky
      • Lexington, Kentucky, United States, 40502-2235
        • Lexington VA Medical Center, Lexington, KY

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

Ages Eligible for Study

60 years and older (Adult, Older Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Veterans age 60 and older

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Veterans diagnosed with PTSD, epilepsy schizophrenia, or use benzodiazepines

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: Non-Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: MCI patients
Vets with mild cognitive impairment
Device: Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback will be tested in both groups of Vets
Other Names:
  • biofeedback
Active Comparator: NC
Normal healthy Veterans
Device: Neurofeedback
Neurofeedback will be tested in both groups of Vets
Other Names:
  • biofeedback

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
EEG alpha band
Time Frame: 6-8 weeks
alpha power under eyes closed and eyes open are linked to better mental state; likely biomarker for mild cognitive impairment.
6-8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
memory-related potentials
Time Frame: 6-8 weeks
Brainwaves that are linked to better memory performance
6-8 weeks
California Verbal Learning Test
Time Frame: About 6-8 weeks
A battery of neuropsychological testing cognitive functions
About 6-8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

VA Office of Research and Development

Investigators

  • Principal Investigator: Yang Jiang, PhD, Lexington VA Medical Center, Lexington, KY

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Helpful Links

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)

February 5, 2022

Primary Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

September 30, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

June 3, 2020

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 22, 2020

First Posted (Actual)

June 25, 2020

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

October 20, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

October 14, 2025

Last Verified

October 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • N3173-P
  • RX-003173 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Department of Veterans Affairs)
  • JIA-20-003-HE (Other Identifier: VA IRB)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

De-identified data will be analyzed and kept at least 6 years after project. Results will be shared via publications. The qualified researchers may contact PI and VA for further sharing of the research data.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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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