Home-based brain stimulation to support thinking and movement in older adults at risk for dementia

Who could benefit from this research

What this research studies

Researchers will enroll 128 older adults who have motoric cognitive risk and are at higher risk for Alzheimer’s and related dementias. After a 2-week open-label tDCS period, participants are randomized to receive either weekly home-based brain stimulation for six months or a delayed-start sham, with stimulation targeted to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and guided by a smartphone app for remote testing and monitoring. The trial uses a double-blind design to compare real versus sham stimulation and aims to determine if longer-term home treatment can improve dual-task gait and executive function beyond short-term benefits. Outcomes include measures of gait during cognitive tasks, cognitive performance, and safety in a real-world home setting. If successful, this approach could offer a practical way to delay cognitive decline in at-risk older adults.

Why it matters

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.

Related research

Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.

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About this research

1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.