Effects of brain stimulation on loneliness in older adults

Utilizing Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to Boost Social Pleasure and Participation in Older Lonely Individuals

This study is testing whether a type of brain stimulation can help lonely older adults feel more connected and motivated to engage socially.

Quick facts

• Phase: NA
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 135 (estimated)
• Ages: 60 Years and up
• Sex: All
• Sponsor: The University of Hong Kong (other)
• Locations: 1 site (Hong Kong)
• Trial ID: NCT05937022 on ClinicalTrials.gov

What this trial studies

This clinical trial investigates the impact of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) on social and emotional functions in lonely older adults aged 60 and above. Participants will undergo 10 sessions of tDCS to assess its effectiveness in enhancing positive social processing and motivation, potentially leading to increased social activity and reduced feelings of loneliness. The study aims to evaluate both the immediate and long-term effects of the intervention on participants' social engagement and emotional well-being. The trial will also explore the safety and efficacy of tDCS as a novel intervention for loneliness in this demographic.

Who should consider this trial

Good fit: Ideal candidates are lonely older adults aged 60 or above who are fluent in Traditional Chinese and meet specific cognitive and educational criteria.

Not a fit: Patients with major physical or neurological illnesses, significant cognitive impairments, or those currently undergoing treatments affecting cognitive function may not benefit from this study.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this intervention could significantly reduce loneliness and improve social engagement among older adults.

How similar studies have performed: While tDCS has shown promise in other contexts, its application specifically for reducing loneliness in older adults is novel and has not been extensively tested.

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged ≥ 60 years old;
2. Fluent in reading and speaking Traditional Chinese (Cantonese or Mandarin);
3. Right-handed as assessed with the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory;
4. Normal or corrected-to-normal vision and hearing;
5. Normal general cognitive function as determined by the Hong Kong version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (HK-MoCA) ≥ 22;
6. ≥ 9 years of formal education as lexical comprehension is required in the Emotion Rating Task.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Current or past major physical or neurological illness that significantly affects the individual's current cognitive, motor, or brain function;
2. Medication or other treatment received within 2 weeks before the study that may affect the individual's current cognitive, motor, or brain function;
3. Receiving maintained therapy that may affect cognitive, motor, or brain function and cannot be discontinued for the entire course of study;
4. Past or present major psychological conditions, including affective disorders, anxiety disorder, psychotic disorder, addiction, and impulse control disorder;
5. Any contraindication of tDCS, such as a cerebral implant or history (either personal or family) of seizure.
6. Participation in similar brain stimulation studies within the past six months.

Where this trial is running

Hong Kong

• The University of Hong Kong — Hong Kong, Hong Kong (RECRUITING)

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Tatia Mei-chun LEE, PhD — The University of Hong Kong
• Study coordinator: Tatia Mei-chun LEE, PhD

Conditions: Loneliness, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation, Emotion Regulation, Lateral Prefrontal Cortex, Aging