Individual Closed-Loop Neuromodulation Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease

This study is exploring a treatment called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for people with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) likely due to Alzheimer's disease. Researchers want to see if tACS can change brain activity (natural gamma rhythms) and improve thinking skills. You would receive one of four tACS conditions, including active and sham (inactive) treatments. To join, you should be 50-80 years old, an English speaker, and have MCI likely caused by Alzheimer's, supported by a biomarker (a biological sign of the disease). The study will measure changes in brain activity and cognitive performance after a single 30-minute stimulation session.

Study design
This is a placebo-controlled study with plans to enroll 70 participants. It compares different types of tACS to a sham (inactive) treatment.
What's involved
You would undergo an EEG (a test that measures brain waves), complete questionnaires, and do computer tasks during each study visit.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Changes in brain activity and cognitive performance are measured after a single 30-minute stimulation session.

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NCT05904132

Individual Closed-Loop Neuromodulation Therapy for Alzheimer's Disease

Recruiting
NAAges 50–80InterventionalTreatment
Massachusetts General Hospital
~70 participants
Updated 2026-07-14 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:tACS device

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Changes in the power of entrainment of natural gamma rhythms in patients with AD-MCI.
Measured over After a single stimulation session (30 minutes).
+2 more outcomes measured
Alzheimer Disease
Mild Cognitive Impairment
1 sites across 1 states
Massachusetts1
  • Joan Camprodon, MD, PhD, MPH · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · MGH, Division of Neuropsychiatry and Neuromodulation

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Overall cognitive functional status consistent with amnesic MCI (CDR 0.5) likely due to AD (AD biomarker supported)
50-80 years of age
English native speakers

Exclusion

Known presence of a structural brain lesion (e.g., tumor, cortical infarct)
Acute or decompensated active medical conditions, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, stroke, congestive heart failure
Active hematological, renal, pulmonary, endocrine or hepatic disorders
Longstanding premorbid history (i.e., longer than 10 years) of alcohol or substance abuse with continuous abuse up to and including the time that the symptoms leading to clinical presentation developed
tACS contraindications (lesions in the scalp, history of seizures)
  • Changes in the power of entrainment of natural gamma rhythms in patients with AD-MCI.After a single stimulation session (30 minutes).

    Measured using closed loop 40 Hertz tACS device

  • Changes in cognitive performance in patients with AD-MCI.After a single stimulation session (30 minutes).

    Measured using Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task (RAVLT) which is broken into 6 blocks with each block including a list of 15 words and higher word remembrance in each block indicates a better outcomes, and Face-Name Association Task (FNAT) task where a higher score of matching face to name (out of 60 trials) indicates a better outcome

  • Changes in gamma power on cognition in patients with AD-MCI including the effect of baseline neurodegenerative burden/biomarkers. [exploratory]After a single stimulation session (30 minutes).

    Measured using Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Task (RAVLT) which is broken into 6 blocks with each block including a list of 15 words and higher word remembrance in each block indicates a better outcomes, and Face-Name Association Task (FNAT) task where a higher score of matching face to name (out of 60 trials) indicates a better outcome, any MRI/PET scans provided prior to study involvement, and changes in gamma power using closed loop 40 Hertz tACS device