High-Intensity Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (Hi-tACS) for Hypertension: A Randomized Controlled Trial

April 29, 2026 updated by: Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing

A Randomized Controlled Trial of High-Intensity Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (Hi-tACS) for the Treatment of Essential Hypertension

This study focuses on individuals with primary hypertension, with the main objective of investigating the effectiveness and safety of high-intensity transcranial alternating current stimulation (Hi-tACS) as a non-invasive, non-pharmacological treatment for hypertension

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

Hypertension is a highly prevalent cardiovascular disease and a major risk factor for stroke, heart failure, and kidney disease. Many patients continue to have poorly controlled blood pressure despite standard medication, which may be due to excessive activity of the central sympathetic nervous system and poor long-term compliance. Conventional antihypertensive drugs mainly act on peripheral targets and lack regulation of the brain-heart axis, leaving a large clinical need for safe, non-pharmacological adjuvant treatments.

High-intensity transcranial alternating current stimulation (Hi-tACS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that can modulate central autonomic networks and normalize sympathetic-parasympathetic balance. Recent studies and our preliminary data suggest that 77.5 Hz, 15 mA Hi-tACS may safely reduce blood pressure in individuals with elevated baseline levels. Therefore, we hypothesize that Hi-tACS can lower blood pressure in patients with primary hypertension by regulating brain autonomic function and reducing sympathetic overactivity.

This study aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of Hi-tACS in adults with primary hypertension, explore its underlying neural and physiological mechanisms, and provide high-quality evidence for a new non-pharmacological approach to hypertension management.

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

50

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 Contact

Study Locations

  • China
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China
        • Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University

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

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Clinical diagnosis of primary hypertension (Grade 1-3) as defined by the Chinese Hypertension Guidelines (Revised Edition 2024).
  • For females of childbearing potential, agreement to use contraception during the study.
  • Willing and able to comply with study procedures and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy during the study period.
  • Resistant hypertension (blood pressure uncontrolled despite adherence to ≥3 antihypertensive drugs of different classes at optimal doses, including a diuretic ), or known secondary hypertension.
  • History of severe cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease (e.g., myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure NYHA Class III-IV) within the past 6 months, or severe hepatic or renal dysfunction (defined as ALT/AST >3× upper limit of normal [ULN], or eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m²).
  • Uncontrolled sleep apnea syndrome, active infectious diseases, chronic wasting diseases, or significant cognitive impairment.
  • Current major psychiatric disorder as assessed by the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (M.I.N.I.).
  • Contraindications to tACS or MRI: implanted electronic devices, intracranial metal implants, or known history of seizures.
  • Skin lesions, eczema, or broken skin at the intended electrode placement sites.
  • Participation in another clinical trial involving an investigational product or device within 30 days prior to screening.
  • Any condition that, in the opinion of the investigator, would jeopardize the patient's safety or compliance with the study protocol, or interfere with data interpretation.

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
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Active High-Intensity Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (Hi-tACS)
Participants receive high-intensity transcranial alternating current stimulation (Hi-tACS) at 77.5 Hz, 15 mA for 40 minutes per session, one session per day, 5 days per week, for 4 weeks (total 20 sessions). Electrodes are placed on the forehead (Fpz, Fp1, Fp2 regions) and bilateral mastoid regions.
Device: Active High-Intensity Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (Hi-tACS)
Active Hi-tACS delivered using a transcranial alternating current stimulation device. Parameters: 77.5 Hz sinusoidal alternating current, 15 mA (peak-to-peak), 40 minutes per session. Electrode montage: one 8 cm × 4 cm electrode placed horizontally on the forehead (covering Fpz, Fp1, Fp2 regions) and two 6 cm × 2.9 cm electrodes placed on bilateral mastoid regions. Conductive gel ensures impedance <10 kΩ. One session/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks (total 20 sessions).
Sham Comparator: Sham High-Intensity Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (Hi-tACS)
Participants receive sham stimulation with the same electrode placement. Active stimulation is delivered only for the first 30 seconds, then ramped down to 0 mA over 10 seconds, with intermittent imperceptible skin-sensation signals for the remaining 40-minute session to mimic real stimulation. Same session schedule (20 sessions over 4 weeks).
Device: Sham High-Intensity Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (Hi-tACS)
Sham stimulation using the same device and electrode placement as the active arm. Active stimulation is applied only for the first 30 seconds, then ramped down to 0 mA over 10 seconds. For the remaining session duration, intermittent low-intensity signals producing imperceptible skin sensation are delivered to maintain blinding. Same schedule: 40 minutes/session, one session/day, 5 days/week for 4 weeks (total 20 sessions).

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Difference in systolic blood pressure at end of treatment
Time Frame: From baseline to week 4 (end of treatment)
Comparison of the change from baseline in systolic blood pressure between the two treatment groups at the end of treatment (week 4)
From baseline to week 4 (end of treatment)

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Difference in systolic blood pressure at week 12
Time Frame: From baseline to week 12
Comparison of the change from baseline in diastolic blood pressure between the two groups at week 12
From baseline to week 12
Difference in diastolic blood pressure at the end of treatment
Time Frame: From baseline to week 4 (end of treatment)
Comparison of the change from baseline in diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between the two groups at the end of treatment (week 4)
From baseline to week 4 (end of treatment)
Difference in 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure parameter at the end of treatment: Mean 24-hour systolic blood pressure
Time Frame: From baseline to week 4 (end of treatment)
Comparison of the change from baseline in mean 24-hour systolic blood pressure between the two treatment groups at the end of treatment (week 4)
From baseline to week 4 (end of treatment)
Difference in rate of achieving target blood pressure at the end of treatment
Time Frame: From baseline to week 4 (end of treatment)
Comparison of the proportion of patients achieving target blood pressure (defined as SBP/DBP <140/90 mmHg, or <130/80 mmHg for those with diabetes or chronic kidney disease) between the two groups at end of treatment （week 4）
From baseline to week 4 (end of treatment)
Difference in proportion of achieving target blood pressure at week 12
Time Frame: From baseline to week 12
Comparison of the proportion of patients achieving target blood pressure (defined as SBP/DBP <140/90 mmHg, or <130/80 mmHg for those with diabetes or chronic kidney disease) between the two groups at week 12
From baseline to week 12

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Xuanwu Hospital, Beijing

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

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 (Estimated)

May 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

October 1, 2027

Study Completion (Estimated)

May 1, 2028

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

April 16, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 29, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 5, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 5, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

April 29, 2026

Last Verified

April 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • Hi-tACS for HBP
  • HZ2025PYLJ003 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University)

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

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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