Home-based brain stimulation to improve thinking and walking in older adults at risk for dementia
Official title: Long-term home-based transcranial electrical stimulation for cognitive and motor function in older adults with an increased risk of dementia: a randomized controlled trial
Funded at Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged · NIH-11172587 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial uses regular mild home-based brain stimulation to try to improve thinking and walking in older adults with motoric cognitive risk, a condition that raises the chance of developing dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $561,198 |
| NIH project number | 5R01AG081349-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172587 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are older adults identified with motoric cognitive risk (MCR) who can use a home device and smartphone and do not have contraindications to brain stimulation.
✕Less likely to help
People without MCR, those with more advanced dementia, or those with implanted electronic devices or other medical contraindications may not benefit or be eligible.
What this research studies
You will use a personalized home device that delivers mild electrical stimulation to the left front part of the brain (dlPFC) while your walking and thinking are measured with a smartphone app. After a 2-week open phase where everyone receives stimulation, participants are randomized to continue real stimulation five times weekly for six months or to a delayed-start sham group. The trial is double-blinded and sham-controlled and conducted across multiple sites, with much of the treatment and testing done at home. Researchers will monitor changes in dual-task walking, executive function, brain imaging markers, and safety over time.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could improve executive thinking and dual-task walking and possibly lower future dementia risk.
How similar studies have gone: Small pilot studies have shown short-term improvements in dual-task gait and executive function with tDCS, but long-term benefits remain unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Manor, Bradley D. — Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged
- Study coordinator: Manor, Bradley D.
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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.