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Gamma tACS to Improve Cognitive Function in Mild Cognitive Impairment
Sponsor: The National Brain Mapping Laboratory (NBML)
Summary
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a decline in memory and thinking that exceeds normal aging but does not substantially disrupt daily life, and it raises the risk of developing dementia. Effective treatments for its cognitive difficulties are few. This study tests whether transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS), a non-invasive method that delivers a weak oscillating electrical current through scalp electrodes, can improve thinking and memory in older women with MCI. The current oscillates at 80 Hz, a frequency in the gamma range, because gamma brain rhythms support memory and attention and are disrupted in MCI. Thirty older women with MCI are randomly assigned to receive either active 80 Hz tACS or sham (placebo) stimulation. Participants and the person delivering the stimulation do not know the group assignment. Both groups complete the same cognitive tests before and after the sessions, measuring overall cognitive status, planning, visuospatial working memory, and reaction speed. The aim is to determine whether active 80 Hz tACS improves cognitive performance more than sham stimulation.
Official title: Efficacy of 80 Hz Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) on Cognitive Function in the Elderly With Mild Cognitive Impairment
Key Details
Gender
FEMALE
Age Range
60 Years - 75 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
30
Start Date
2024-03-02
Completion Date
2025-10-15
Last Updated
2026-08-07
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
transcranial electrical stimulation
Transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that applies low-intensity electrical currents to the scalp to modulate brain activity. It targets specific brain regions to influence neuronal excitability, connectivity, and plasticity, offering potential therapeutic benefits for neurological and psychiatric conditions. tES is portable, cost-effective, and generally well-tolerated, with minimal side effects such as mild tingling or itching at the stimulation site.
Locations (1)
Department of Psychology, University of Mohaghegh Ardabili
Ardabil, Iran