Personalized Closed-Loop Brain Stimulation for Patients With Primary Progressive Aphasia

ConditionPPA
Trial statusNot yet recruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age45-85
SponsorJohns Hopkins University

About this trial

This research study investigates the feasibility and efficacy of a personalized, closed-loop electroencephalogram-transcranial electrical stimulation (EEG-tES) intervention for individuals with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), addressing the inconsistent results of generic brain stimulation protocols. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI)-derived insights with real-time data, the study aims to customize transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) parameters, including electrode placement, intensity, and frequency to target the specific brain regions responsible for abnormal signaling in each participant. Over the intervention period paired with computerized cognitive training, the project will evaluate improvements in learning, memory, and functional connectivity, while simultaneously identifying clinical and physiological predictors to determine the viability of transitioning this low-cost, non-invasive technology into a remotely supervised, home-based therapy setting. The study duration will be a total of 6-8 weeks.

Eligibility criteria

Qualifiers

Must be between 45-85 years of age.

Must be right-handed.

Must be proficient in English.

Must have a minimum of high-school education.

Disqualifiers

People with previous neurological disease including vascular dementia (e.g., stroke, developmental dyslexia, dysgraphia or attentional deficit).

People with hearing loss (> 25 decibel, using audiometric hearing screen).

People with uncorrected visual acuity loss.

People with advanced dementia or severe language impairments (MMSE <15, or Montreal Cognitive Assessment <10, or language Frontotemporal Dementia-specific Clinical Dementia Rating (FTD-CDR) =3).

Trial design

Treatments tested in this trial

  • Active tES
  • Cognitive Interventions

Treatment groups

10 Participants
are divided into 1 treatment group

Sponsors and collaborators

Johns Hopkins University

Lead sponsor

Mackler-Goding Foundation

Collaborator