Optimizing tDCS to Improve Dual Task Gait and Balance

Completed · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Aging

In brief

The objective of this study is to determine the acute effects of single sessions of optimized tDCS, conventional tDCS, and sham stimulation on dual task standing and walking in older adults who are free of overt disease yet who present with poor baseline dual task performance.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT04295798

Run by

Hebrew SeniorLife

People needed

29

Starts

2020-02-10

Expected to finish

2023-03-02

Last updated by the study team

2025-01-30

Who can join

Age: 65 and older, up to 85. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Men and women aged 65-85 years
• Poor dual task performance, defined as a preferred gait speed that is >10% slower when walking and simultaneously performing verbalized serial subtractions (i.e., dual tasking), as compared to walking normally (i.e. single tasking)

You may not qualify if…

• Unwillingness to cooperate or participate in the study protocol
• An inability to walk or stand for 30 continuous seconds without an assistive device
• A diagnosis of a gait disorder, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or dementia, multiple sclerosis, previous stroke or other neurodegenerative disorder
• Self-report of acute illness, injury or other unstable medical condition; Any report of severe lower-extremity arthritis or pain, physician-diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, or other peripheral neuromuscular disease that may confound the effects of tDCS on gait or postural control
• Use of antipsychotics, anti-seizure, benzodiazepines, or other neuroactive medications
• Severe depression defined by a Geriatric Depression Scale score greater than 11;
• Any report or physician-diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other psychiatric illness
• Contraindications to MRI or tDCS, including reported seizure within the past two years, use of neuro-active drugs, the risk of metal objects anywhere in the body, 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

Where it is running

• Hebrew Rehabilitation Center — Roslindale, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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