Home-based Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Pain Management in Persons With Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

Purpose

The purpose of this project is to evaluate the preliminary effects of home-based M1-SO applied tDCS (that is, tDCS with the anode over the primary motor cortex and the cathode over the contralateral supraorbital area) on clinical pain in persons with early-stage Alzheimer's disease and Related Dementias (ADRD), to evaluate the preliminary effects of home-based M1-SO applied tDCS on pain-related cortical response in persons with early-stage ADRD, and to evaluate the feasibility and acceptability of home-based M1-SO applied tDCS for pain management in persons with early-stage AD.

Condition

  • Alzheimer's Disease and Related Dementias

Eligibility

Eligible Ages
Between 50 Years and 90 Years
Eligible Genders
All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
No

Inclusion Criteria

  • early-stage Alzhimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD) - have caregiver-reported chronic pain (average pain in the past 3 months ≥ 3 out of 10), - have a caregiver willing to participate in the study who sees the participant at least 10 hours/week - can speak and read English - have no plans to change medication regimens during the trial

Exclusion Criteria

  • history of brain surgery, brain tumor, seizure, stroke, or intracranial metal implantation - alcohol/substance abuse - severely diminished cognitive function (i.e., MiniMental Status Exam score ≤ 15) - hospitalization within the preceding year for neuropsychiatric illness

Study Design

Phase
N/A
Study Type
Interventional
Allocation
Randomized
Intervention Model
Parallel Assignment
Primary Purpose
Treatment
Masking
Double (Participant, Care Provider)

Arm Groups

ArmDescriptionAssigned Intervention
Experimental
Active tDCS
  • Device: Active tDCS
    tDCS with a constant current intensity of 2 milliampere (mA) will be applied for 20 minutes per session daily for 5 days via the Soterix 1x1 tDCS mini-CT Stimulator device with headgear and 5x7 cm saline-soaked surface sponge electrodes.
Placebo Comparator
Sham tDCS
  • Device: Sham tDCS
    The electrodes will be placed in the same positions as for active stimulation, but the stimulator will only deliver 2 mA current for 30 seconds.

More Details

Status
Completed
Sponsor
Florida State University

Study Contact