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Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) Combined With Cognitive Training in Alzheimer's Disease (AD_tACSrehab)

4. listopadu 2026 aktualizováno: Prof. Barbara Borroni, IRCCS Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli

Interventional Study to Evaluate the Effectiveness of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) Combined With Cognitive Training on Cognitive Performance in Patients With Alzheimer's Disease

The aim of the study is to evaluate the clinical and biological efficacy, as well as predictors of efficacy, of a home-based intervention combining transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with individualized computerized cognitive training in patients with mild Alzheimer's disease (AD).

In neurodegenerative diseases, including AD, neurodegeneration is accompanied by alterations in brain oscillatory activity. Restoration of these oscillations through neuronal entrainment has shown beneficial effects in animal models, while previous studies in patients with AD have demonstrated that gamma-frequency tACS applied over the precuneus is safe and well tolerated and is associated with improvements in cognitive performance and cholinergic function, as well as modulation of brain oscillatory activity. Cognitive rehabilitation may also improve memory performance in patients with mild AD. Based on this evidence, the present study investigates a multimodal approach combining gamma-tACS with individualized computerized memory training.

The study is a multicenter, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial involving 30 participants with mild AD. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups: Group 1 will receive real gamma-tACS for 8 weeks (5 sessions/week, 60 minutes/session) combined with cognitive training (2 sessions/week, 30 minutes/session); Group 2 will receive sham tACS according to the same schedule, combined with the same cognitive training. tACS will be applied over the precuneus. Treatment will initially be performed in the hospital and will subsequently be administered at home under remote supervision by the study team.

Assessments will be performed at baseline (T00), after 8 weeks of treatment (T08), and at follow-up visits at 16 weeks (T16) and 24 weeks (T24) from baseline. At each time point, participants will undergo clinical and neuropsychological assessment, blood sampling, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The occurrence of adverse events will be monitored throughout the duration of the study.

The main objectives of the study are: 1) to evaluate the short- and long-term effects of the combined intervention on cognitive performance; 2) to investigate intervention-induced changes in biological markers of neurodegeneration, inflammation, and synaptic function; 3) to evaluate the effects of the intervention on cholinergic transmission through the TMS short-latency afferent inhibition (SAI) measure; and 4) to investigate potential predictors of treatment efficacy.

Přehled studie

Postavení

Nábor

Podmínky

Intervence / Léčba

Typ studie

Intervenční

Zápis (Odhadovaný)

30

Fáze

  • Nelze použít

Kontakty a umístění

Tato část poskytuje kontaktní údaje pro ty, kteří studii provádějí, a informace o tom, kde se tato studie provádí.

Studijní místa

      • Milan, Itálie
        • Zatím nenabíráme
        • IRCCS S. Maria Nascente - Fondazione Don Carlo Gnocchi
        • Kontakt:
          • Francesca Baglio, MD
          • Telefonní číslo: +390240308951
    • Brescia
      • Brescia, Brescia, Itálie, 25125
        • Nábor
        • IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni Di Dio - Fatebenefratelli
        • Vrchní vyšetřovatel:
          • Barbara Borroni, MD
        • Kontakt:

Kritéria účasti

Výzkumníci hledají lidi, kteří odpovídají určitému popisu, kterému se říká kritéria způsobilosti. Některé příklady těchto kritérií jsou celkový zdravotní stav osoby nebo předchozí léčba.

Kritéria způsobilosti

Věk způsobilý ke studiu

18 let a starší (Dospělý, Starší dospělý)

Přijímá zdravé dobrovolníky

Ne

Pohlaví způsobilá ke studiu

Všechno

Popis

Inclusion Criteria:

Patients:

  • Male or female participants aged ≥18 years at the time of signing the informed consent form;
  • Clinical diagnosis of mild Alzheimer's disease (AD) according to current clinical criteria;
  • Availability of a caregiver who can assist the participant and who has successfully completed the required training for the use of the device at home.

Caregivers:

  • Male or female caregivers aged ≥18 years;
  • Compliance with participation in the in-hospital training;
  • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score >27/30.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Age below that specified in the inclusion criteria;
  • Inability to understand;
  • Contraindications to tACS and TMS (e.g., presence of a cardiac pacemaker or metallic implants incompatible with electrical or magnetic fields, history of epilepsy, or current pregnancy, as assessed using the safety questionnaire).

Studijní plán

Tato část poskytuje podrobnosti o studijním plánu, včetně toho, jak je studie navržena a co studie měří.

Jak je studie koncipována?

Detaily designu

  • Primární účel: Léčba
  • Přidělení: Randomizované
  • Intervenční model: Paralelní přiřazení
  • Maskování: Trojnásobný

Zbraně a zásahy

Skupina účastníků / Arm
Intervence / Léčba
Falešný srovnávač: Falešný tACS

Participants will receive individualized computerized memory training for 8 weeks (2 sessions/week, 30 minutes/session) through synchronous telerehabilitation. The memory training will be individualized based on each participant's performance on the Face-Name Association Task (FNAT) and will use an errorless learning approach.

40 at-home sessions (5 days/week for 8 weeks), each consisting of the application of sham tACS applied over the precuneus for a duration of 60 minutes each. The electrode placement will be identical to that used for real stimulation. However, the electrical current will be automatically interrupted approximately 5 seconds after the start of stimulation, making it impossible for the participant to distinguish between sham and real stimulation.

Experimentální: Real tACS

40 at-home sessions (5 days/week for 8 weeks), each consisting of the application of tACS (real, 40 Hz) applied over the precuneus for a duration of 60 minutes each.

Participants will receive individualized computerized memory training for 8 weeks (2 sessions/week, 30 minutes/session) through synchronous telerehabilitation. The memory training will be individualized based on each participant's performance on the Face-Name Association Task (FNAT) and will use an errorless learning approach.

Co je měření studie?

Primární výstupní opatření

Měření výsledku
Popis opatření
Časové okno
Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 24

The global cognitive functioning will be assessed by Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE); MMSE scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating a more preserved cognition.

Change from baseline to week 24
Semantic Fluency Test
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16, and 24

Lexical-semantic access and executive functioning will be evaluated by Semantic Fluency Test. Participant is asked to generate as many words as possible from a given category within a limited time (60 seconds); higher scores indicate better performance.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16, and 24
Trail Making Test (TMT - A, B)
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16, and 24

Executive function will be assessed using the Trail Making Test, including Part A (visual attention and processing speed) and Part B (task switching and cognitive flexibility). Higher completion times reflect poorer performance.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16, and 24
Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT)
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24

Verbal memory will be assessed using the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT), including immediate recall (sum of trials), delayed recall after 15 minutes. Scores reflect the number of correctly recalled items.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24
Alzheimer's Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive Subscale (ADAS-Cog-13)
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24

The ADAS-Cog-13 consists of 13 tasks assessing cognitive domains including memory, language, praxis, orientation, and attention. Total scores range from 0 to 85, with higher scores indicating greater cognitive impairment.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24
Face-Name Associative Memory Test (FNAT)
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24

The Face-Name Associative Memory Test is used to assess the participant's associative memory and is composed of encoding and retrieval phases, with higher scores indicating better function.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24
Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study - Activities of Daily Living (ADCS-ADL)
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24

ADCS-ADL evaluates activities of daily living. The scores range from 0-78 with lower scores indicating more severe functional impairment.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24
Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24

Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) is designed to be a structured clinical interview about neuropsychiatric and behavioral symptoms; the score ranges from 0 (no symptoms) to 144 (severe symptoms).

Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24
Clinical Dementia Rating scale - Sum of Boxes (CDR-SoB)
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24

The Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) assesses cognitive and functional impairment across six domains: memory, orientation, judgment and problem solving, community affairs, home and hobbies, and personal care. Total scores range from 0 to 18, with higher scores indicating greater cognitive and functional impairment.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24
Clinical Dementia Rating scale - Global Score (CDR-GS)
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24

The Clinical Dementia Rating Global Score (CDR-GS) assesses the overall severity of cognitive and functional impairment across six domains: memory, orientation, judgment and problem solving, community affairs, home and hobbies, and personal care. Global scores range from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating greater impairment.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16 and 24
Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI)
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16, and 24

The Zarit Burden Interview (ZBI) assesses the perceived burden experienced by caregivers of individuals with dementia. It consists of 22 items rated on a 5-point scale. Total scores range from 0 to 88, with higher scores indicating greater caregiver burden.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16, and 24

Sekundární výstupní opatření

Měření výsledku
Popis opatření
Časové okno
Change in SAI measurements
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16, and 24

By using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), the investigators will evaluate the effects of gamma tACS on short latency afferent inhibition (SAI), which is a marker of cholinergic transmission. SAI is expressed as percent of the unconditioned motor evoked potential.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16, and 24
Change From Baseline in Biological Marker Concentrations
Časové okno: Change from baseline to week 8, 16, and 24

A venous blood draw will be performed at each timepoint. Samples will be processed for serum, plasma, and DNA extraction. Changes from baseline in biological marker concentrations, including plasma p-tau217, will be evaluated over time.

Change from baseline to week 8, 16, and 24
Demographic characteristics
Časové okno: Baseline

Demographic characteristics (age, gender, and level of education) will be evaluated as predictors of treatment efficacy and examined for associations with differential treatment response.

Baseline
Baseline Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB)
Časové okno: Baseline

The Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) will be used to assess disease severity at baseline and evaluated as a predictor of treatment efficacy and examined for associations with differential treatment response. The CDR-SB assesses cognitive and functional impairment across six domains: memory, orientation, judgment and problem solving, community affairs, home and hobbies, and personal care. Total scores range from 0 to 18, with higher scores indicating greater disease severity.

Baseline
Baseline Clinical Dementia Rating - Global Score (CDR-GS)
Časové okno: Baseline

The Clinical Dementia Rating - Global Score (CDR-GS) will be used to assess disease severity at baseline and evaluated as a predictor of treatment efficacy and examined for associations with differential treatment response. The CDR-SB assesses cognitive and functional impairment across six domains: memory, orientation, judgment and problem solving, community affairs, home and hobbies, and personal care. Global scores range from 0 to 3, with higher scores indicating greater impairment.

Baseline
Level of Education and Occupational Attainment as Proxies of Cognitive Reserve
Časové okno: Baseline

Level of education and occupational attainment will be assessed at baseline as proxy measures of cognitive reserve and examined for associations with differential treatment response.

Baseline
Plasma Biomarker Profile
Časové okno: Baseline

The plasma biomarker profile will be evaluated as a predictor of treatment efficacy and examined for associations with differential treatment response.

Baseline

Spolupracovníci a vyšetřovatelé

Zde najdete lidi a organizace zapojené do této studie.

Sponzor

Publikace a užitečné odkazy

Osoba odpovědná za zadávání informací o studiu tyto publikace poskytuje dobrovolně. Mohou se týkat čehokoli, co souvisí se studiem.

Obecné publikace

Termíny studijních záznamů

Tato data sledují průběh záznamů studie a předkládání souhrnných výsledků na ClinicalTrials.gov. Záznamy ze studií a hlášené výsledky jsou před zveřejněním na veřejné webové stránce přezkoumány Národní lékařskou knihovnou (NLM), aby se ujistily, že splňují specifické standardy kontroly kvality.

Hlavní termíny studia

Začátek studia (Aktuální)

16. září 2026

Primární dokončení (Odhadovaný)

1. září 2031

Dokončení studie (Odhadovaný)

1. září 2032

Termíny zápisu do studia

První předloženo

14. září 2026

První předloženo, které splnilo kritéria kontroly kvality

21. září 2026

První zveřejněno (Aktuální)

24. září 2026

Aktualizace studijních záznamů

Poslední zveřejněná aktualizace (Aktuální)

5. listopadu 2026

Odeslaná poslední aktualizace, která splnila kritéria kontroly kvality

4. listopadu 2026

Naposledy ověřeno

1. září 2026

Více informací

Termíny související s touto studií

Další identifikační čísla studie

  • AD_tACSrehab

Informace o lécích a zařízeních, studijní dokumenty

Studuje lékový produkt regulovaný americkým FDA

Ne

Studuje produkt zařízení regulovaný americkým úřadem FDA

Ne

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