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Home-based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Huntington's Disease

This study is testing a home-based treatment called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for people with Huntington's Disease (HD). tDCS uses a device to deliver a mild electrical current to specific areas of the brain. The study aims to see if this treatment is practical, acceptable, and safe for HD patients in early to middle stages, and if it can help with behavioral and thinking problems. You might be able to join if you are between 18 and 80 years old, have a confirmed HD diagnosis or family history with typical symptoms like chorea (involuntary movements), and have mild to moderate behavioral symptoms. The study will measure how many people complete the treatment, how acceptable it is, and any side effects over about 8 weeks.

Study design
This is an interventional study with a planned enrollment of 10 participants. It is an open trial, meaning both you and the researchers will know what treatment you are receiving.
What's involved
You would receive active tDCS treatment at home. The study will assess your acceptability of the treatment at baseline, week 2, week 4, and week 8, and side effects at week 2 and week 4.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
The primary endpoints are measured through study completion, which is an average of 8 weeks.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05326451

Home-based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Open Trial for Behavioral and Cognitive Symptoms in Huntington's Disease

Recruiting
NAAges 18–80InterventionalTreatment
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
~10 participants
Updated 2026-02-11 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:active tDCS

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Feasibility as assessed by the number of participants included and who successfully completed the protocol
Measured over through study completion, an average of 8 weeks
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Huntington Disease

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Huntington's Disease

NCT05326451

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston

    Houston, Texasstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Erin Stimming, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston

Who to contact

Erin Stimming, MD
[email protected]
(713) 500-7033
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

confirmed HD mutation carriers and/or established family history alongside typical symptoms (i.e. chorea) of HD;
early (stages 1 and 2) or moderate (stage 3) stages according to Shoulson-Fahn
exhibit mild to moderate behavioral symptoms defined by severity scores in the PBA-S between 1 and 3 for any of the evaluated symptoms and no symptoms with a severity score of 4
stable doses of medications for at least one month
Have a caregiver willing to be present during tDCS sessions and answer questionnaires.
willingness to participate in the study

Exclusion

unstable medical conditions
history of epilepsy
metallic objects in the brain
Have a caregiver willing to be present during tDCS sessions and answer questionnaires.
clinical diagnosis of major cognitive disorder or dementia
Have risk of suicidal behavior, defined as any suicidal behavior or suicidal ideation of type 4 or type 5 based on the Columbia-Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) in the 3 months prior to screening
simultaneous participation in other clinical trial
Individuals determined to be incapable of consent per past medical history or via assessment by the study staff at time of consent.
motor/cognitive symptoms related to Alzheimer's disease or Huntington's disease that might impair the ability to assist the participant during the research study.

What this trial measures

  • Feasibility as assessed by the number of participants included and who successfully completed the protocolthrough study completion, an average of 8 weeks
  • Change in acceptability of the treatment as assessed by the tDCS acceptability questionnaireBaseline, week 2, week 4, week 8

    Acceptability will be evaluated using a Likert scale (from 0 \[strongly disagree\] to 10 \[strongly agree\]) to answer ten affirmatives regarding the use of home based tDCS, with a total score range of 0-10 and a higher score indicating higher acceptability.

  • Change in safety of home-based tDCS treatment as as assessed by the tDCS side effect questionnaireweek 2, week 4

    Safety will be assessed with a 10-item questionnaire about side effects, including itching, burning, headache, fatigue, and dizziness. Each question is scored form 0-10, with a total score range of 0-10 and a higher score indicating more side effects.