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Enhancing Brain Health by TDCS in Persons with Overweight and Obesity
Sponsor: University Hospital Tuebingen
Summary
Disturbances in the hypothalamus communication pathways with other regions in the brain and the periphery may represent a potential link between metabolic and cognitive health. The current project evaluates whether enhancing synaptic plasticity of this pathway can improve weight management, insulin sensitivity, and cognitive functions. In recent studies, we were able to show that the human brain is sensitive to insulin with favorable effects on peripheral metabolism and cognition. These brain regions encompass the hypothalamus and its connections to the striatum and prefrontal cortex. We want to investigate whether it is possible to enhance neuroplasticity of insulin-responsive brain regions to suppress the weight gain trajectory and improve dopamine-dependent cognitive functions in people with a high risk to develop type 2 diabetes. For this purpose, neuroimaging tools using high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) will be implemented to assess synaptic plasticity of a neural network essential for metabolic and cognitive health.
Official title: Enhancing Brain Health to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
20 Years - 65 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
40
Start Date
2021-11-08
Completion Date
2025-12-31
Last Updated
2025-03-30
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Conditions
Interventions
anodal transcranial direct current stimulation
anodal tDCS of the hypothalamus resting-state functional connectivity network using 12 Electrodes of the Starstim device by Neuroelectrics. The total injected current will never go beyond 4 milliamp, which will be split among the different stimulation electrodes.
cathodal transcranial direct current stimulation
anodal tDCS of the hypothalamus resting-state functional connectivity network using 12 Electrodes of the Starstim device by Neuroelectrics. The total injected current will never go beyond 4 milliamp, which will be split among the different stimulation electrodes.
sham transcranial direct current stimulation
Double blind sham stimulation of the hypothalamus resting-state functional connectivity network (ramp-up ramp-down stimulation will be applied for 30 seconds)
Locations (1)
University Clinic Tübingen
Tübingen, Germany