Investigating the Efficacy and Mechanisms of Individualized tACS Targeting Anhedonia in Late-Life Depression

Recruiting now · Not applicable · Has a placebo group

Conditions studied: Late-Life Depression, Anhedonia

In brief

This project focuses on clinical translational research into personalized transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) for treating anhedonia in late-life depression (LLD). Key components include: (1) Optimizing individualized tACS treatment parameters through randomized, double-blind, controlled trials and establishing precise treatment protocols using deep learning algorithms; (2) Assessing the short-term (2 weeks) and long-term (3 months) efficacy of tACS on depressive symptoms and anhedonia using scales such as the HAMD, SHAPS, and DARS, while monitoring safety; (3) Integrating multimodal detection technologies (64-channel EEG, inflammatory factors/neurotransmitters, etc.) to elucidate the mechanisms by which tACS alleviates anhedonia through modulating prefrontal neural oscillations (y-band), improving synaptic plasticity (increased BDNF), and regulating neurotransmitters (5-HT, DA). This study will establish, for the first time, an individualized parameter system for tACS treatment of LLD, providing a novel non-pharmacological intervention strategy for clinical practice.

Key facts

Study ID: NCT07637773
Run by: Jie Li
People needed: 80
Starts: 2026-03-16
Expected to finish: 2027-12-31
Last updated by the study team: 2026-06-10

Who can join

Age: 60 and older. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: not accepted.

You may qualify if…

(1) Patients were interviewed using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fifth Edition (DSM-5) - Clinical Version (SCID-5-CV) to confirm that they met the DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for "major depressive disorder"; (2) Age ≥ 60 years; gender not restricted; (3) Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD)-17 score > 24

You may not qualify if…

(1) History of severe head trauma or serious neurological conditions such as epilepsy; (2) Any brain devices or implants, including cochlear implants and aneurysm clips; treatments such as transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).
(3) Individuals who have undergone other physical modulation therapies within the past 8 weeks, including but not limited to non-convulsive electroconvulsive therapy, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, and transcranial direct current stimulation.

Where it is running

Tianjin Anding Hospital — Tianjin, Tianjin Municipality, China (enrolling)

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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