Recruiting

Observational Study

Sponsor:

University of Michigan

Code:

NCT06453980

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 60+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Interventions

sham tDCS

active tDCS

Study Details

Brief summary:

This study will evaluate the effects of a form of non-invasive brain stimulation on brain functioning and memory in cognitively intact older adults (healthy controls, HC) and in those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI).

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Study ID

NCT06453980

Start date

May 13, 2024

Status verified date

Mar, 2026

Completion date

Apr 30, 2026

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Apr 30, 2026

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 60+

Healthy Volunteers: Accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Normal cognition for HC and diagnosis of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) for MCI participants
  • Right-handedness
  • Magnetic resonance compatible, criteria that also apply for high definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS; e.g., absence of metallic or electronic implants in the upper body or head)

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of other contributing neurological or medical conditions known to affect cognitive functioning
  • Significant mental illness
  • Sensory impairments that limit ability to participate
  • History of alcohol or drug abuse/dependence

Study Design

Enrollment

80 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Parallel Assignment

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

sham comparator: HC sham tDCS

Sham (placebo) dose of HD-tDCS treatment for 20 minutes, for 1 session.

experimental: HC active tDCS

3 milliAmp dose of HD-tDCS treatment for 20 minutes, for 1 session.

sham comparator: MCI sham tDCS

Sham (placebo) dose of HD-tDCS treatment for 20 minutes, for 1 session.

experimental: MCI active tDCS

3 milliAmp dose of HD-tDCS treatment for 20 minutes, for 1 session.

Interventions

sham tDCS

Participants will receive sham (placebo) HD-tDCS for 20 minutes, for 1 session.

active tDCS

Participants will receive HD-tDCS at 3 milliAmp for 20 minutes, for 1 session.

Primary outcome measure

  • Changes in glutamate concentration (fMRS) [ Time Frame: average on 1 week ]
  • Changes in brain activation (fMRI) [ Time Frame: average of 1 week ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Harini Babu, MSc

734-647-3704hariniba@umich.edu

Eileen Robinson, RN-BC

734-763-1356robinsoe@med.umich.edu

Locations

University of Michigan

Recruiting

Ann Arbor, Michigan, United States, 48109

Contacts

Alexandru Iordan, Ph.D

734-764-2909adiordan@med.umich.edu

Principal Investigator:

Alexandru Iordan, Ph.D

More Information

Sponsor

University of Michigan

Last update posted

Mar 10, 2026

Last verified

Mar, 2026

Keywords

  • tDCS
  • Glutamate
  • MRS
  • fMRI
  • fNIRS

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by University of Michigan on 2026-03-10.