Multi-session Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation to Improve Dual-task Standing and Brain Activity in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

{ "Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) for Mild Cognitive Impairment", "This study is looking at whether a treatment called transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) can improve balance and brain activity in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). MCI is a condition where people have memory or thinking problems that are more than normal for their age, but not as severe as dementia. Researchers believe that increasing a specific type of brain activity, called alpha power, might help with balance and executive functions (like planning and multitasking). You would receive ten sessions of either real tACS or a sham (inactive) tACS over 20 minutes. The study will measure changes in your brain's alpha power and how well you can balance while doing another task. The study is looking for 20 participants, aged 65 to 85, who have been diagnosed with MCI and can stand and walk on their own.", "design": "This study is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive a specific treatment. It will involve about 20 participants who will be randomly assigned to receive either real tACS or sham tACS.", "commitments": "You would receive ten 20-minute sessions of either real tACS or sham tACS. Your brain activity and balance will be measured at the start, immediately after the sessions, and then again 4 weeks and 12 weeks later.", "compensation": "Not stated in the trial record.", "follow_up": "Participants will be followed for 12 weeks after the intervention to measure brain activity and postural sway speed.", }

Study design: Not specified.
What's involved: Not specified in the trial record.
Compensation: Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up: Not specified.

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

Multi-session Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation to Improve Dual-task Standing and Brain Activity in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment

Active, Not Recruiting

PHASE2Ages 65–85InterventionalTreatment

High Point University

~20 participants

Updated 2026-09-16 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What's tested:real tACSsham tACS

At a glance

Recruiting sites

0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now

RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open

What they're measuring

EEG alpha-band power

Measured over Baseline, immediate post-intervention assessments, Follow-up visit #1 (4 weeks later of post-intervention assessment, Follow-up visit #2 (12 weeks later post-intervention assessment).

+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)

NCT07097051

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.

High Point University
High Point, North Carolinano site contact published

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

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 65+

Who have been diagnosed with cognitive impairment (based in MoCA or TICS and Clinical Dementia Rating: CDR 0.5)

Ability to stand and walk independently

Willing and capable to give informed consent for the participation in the study after it has been thoroughly explained

Cut off of MOCA score \>18 will be applied

Able and willing to comply with all study requirements informed consent form was signed

Understanding of the ICF will be assessed by asking the participant to answer the following three questions: 1) What is the purpose of this study? 2) What are the risks of study involvement? 3) If you decide to participate, are you allowed to withdraw from the study at any time? Answers will be recorded by study personnel on the "Assessment of Protocol Understanding" form (see attached). Insufficient understanding will be defined by one or more incorrect answers, as determined at the discretion of the investigator.

Exclusion

Cut off of MOCA score \<18 will be applied

Major psychiatric co-morbidity including major depressive disorder, schizophrenia or psychosis

Blindness or other disabilities that prevent task performance

Self-reported history of stroke or neurodegenerative disorders other than MCI.

Self-reported active cancer for which chemo-/radiation therapy is being received.

Contraindications to tACS, as recorded on a standardized screening questionnaire, which include a reported seizure within the past two years, use of neuro-active drugs, self-reported presence of specific implanted medical devices (e.g., deep brain stimulator, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, pacemaker, etc.), or the presence of any active dermatological condition, such as eczema, on the scalp.

What this trial measures

EEG alpha-band powerBaseline, immediate post-intervention assessments, Follow-up visit #1 (4 weeks later of post-intervention assessment, Follow-up visit #2 (12 weeks later post-intervention assessment).
Change of EEG oscillations and frequency coupling at 8-13 Hz
Change of postural sway speedBaseline, immediate post-intervention assessments, Follow-up visit #1 (4 weeks later of post-intervention assessment, Follow-up visit #2 (12 weeks later post-intervention assessment).
his metric assesses the ability to control standing posture

Trialytics