At-home brain stimulation for mild to moderate Alzheimer's
Non-Invasive Home Neurostimulation for Mild to Moderate Alzheimer's Disease: Double-Blind, Sham Controlled Randomized Clinical Trial
This trial tests whether daily, gentle electrical brain stimulation used at home can help thinking and memory in people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | State University New York Stony Brook NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stony Brook, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11269394 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would use a non-invasive transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) device at home five days a week for six months while following the study schedule. Participants are randomly assigned so some get real stimulation and others get a sham device, and neither you nor the staff know which one you receive during the trial. Researchers will give cognitive tests before treatment, after six months, and again one month and three months later to see how long any effects last. The study also tracks mood, quality of life, and how satisfied participants are with the home treatment.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adults with a clinical diagnosis of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease who can follow home device procedures and typically have a caregiver available for support are ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People with severe Alzheimer's, certain implanted electronic devices (like pacemakers), uncontrolled seizures, problematic skin conditions at electrode sites, or those unable to follow home procedures may not be eligible or likely to benefit.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If it works, this approach could improve memory and thinking and offer a low-risk, at-home treatment option that helps daily functioning.
How similar studies have performed: Small pilot and clinic-based tDCS studies, including an early at-home pilot in people with early Alzheimer's, have shown promising but preliminary cognitive and brain-measure improvements, so larger randomized trials are needed.
Where this research is happening
Stony Brook, United States
- State University New York Stony Brook — Stony Brook, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Verghese, Joe — State University New York Stony Brook
- Study coordinator: Verghese, Joe
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.