Fostering Eating After Stroke With Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Dysphagia, Stroke

In brief

Swallowing difficulties are common after a stroke and can lead to serious complications like pneumonia and malnutrition. Unfortunately, there are no effective treatment for improving swallowing in stroke patients. Previous investigations have shown that recovery of swallowing functions occurs from reorganization ("rewiring") of the non-involved cerebral hemisphere. In this study, the investigators propose to investigate a new intervention, which combines, swallowing exercises with brain stimulation targeted to the non-involved cerebral hemisphere, using low intensity current in acute stroke patients. The investigators plan to assess the safety of this technique in this patient population and also assess its effect on improving swallowing functions and swallowing physiology. During this time trial participants will undergo standardized swallowing and neurological assessments as well as brain MRI scans.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01919112

Run by

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center

People needed

42

Starts

2013-09-01

Expected to finish

2019-09-01

Last updated by the study team

2020-07-21

Who can join

Age: 21 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• 21 years or older in age since safety of non-invasive cortical stimulation in children.
• Between 25 hours (day 2) to 144 (day 6) hours since stroke onset.
• Unilateral hemispheric infarction (cortical or subcortical infarction) documented by imaging.
• Moderate to severe dysphagia with a score of 4 or more on Penetration and Aspiration Scale (PAS)

You may not qualify if…

• Prior history of swallowing difficulties.
• Drowsiness or marked cognitive impairment that interferes with participation in swallowing maneuvers.
• Unable to undergo an MRI due to claustrophobia or presence of electrically, magnetically or mechanically activated implant (including cardiac pacemaker), intracerebral vascular clips or any other electrically sensitive support system, metal in any part of the body, including metallic injury to eye, or pregnancy).
• History of seizures or unexplained episodes of loss of consciousness.

Where it is running

• Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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