Home-based brain stimulation with virtual speech therapy for logopenic PPA
Investigating the Benefits of Remotely-Supervised Neuromodulation In Primary Progressive Aphasia
This project will test whether home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with virtual speech-language therapy helps people with the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia communicate better.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 80 (estimated) |
| Ages | 40 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | University of Texas at Austin Academic / other |
| Locations | 2 sites (San Francisco, California and 1 other locations) |
| Trial ID | NCT07260253 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
Adults with logopenic variant PPA who meet cognitive and technical criteria are randomized to receive either active remotely supervised tDCS plus virtual lexical retrieval therapy or sham tDCS plus the same virtual therapy. Treatments are delivered at home with remote supervision and outcome measures include communication tests, feasibility and acceptability metrics, and MRI-based brain measures collected at the research site. The trial will compare changes in language and communication between the active and sham groups and explore whether individual brain characteristics predict response. Study partners co-enroll to attend on-site training and support remote treatment sessions.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are English-speaking adults diagnosed with logopenic variant PPA who score 20 or higher on the MMSE, can travel to a site for MRI and training, have high-speed internet and basic computer skills, and have a study partner who can co-enroll.
Not a fit: People with non-logopenic PPA variants, significant cognitive impairment (MMSE <20), contraindications to tDCS or MRI (for example seizure history), no study partner, or no reliable internet access are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the combined home-based tDCS and virtual speech therapy could improve everyday communication and make language treatment more accessible for people with lvPPA.
How similar studies have performed: Prior small trials combining tDCS with language therapy have shown promising but mixed improvements in aphasia, while fully remote, home-based tDCS for lvPPA is a newer and less-tested approach.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Meets diagnostic criteria for primary progressive aphasia (PPA) * Meets diagnostic criteria for logopenic variant PPA * Attains score of 20 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination * Has adequate hearing and vision (with hearing or vision aids, if needed) * Is able to travel to research site and undergo MRI brain scan * Has access to high speed internet and basic experience using a computer and the internet * Is a fluent speaker of English * Has a study partner who can co-enroll in the study, attend pre-treatment training at the research site, and be present for teleconference meetings, as needed Exclusion Criteria: * Speech and language deficits better accounted for by another neurological disorder * Does not meet diagnostic criteria for logopenic variant PPA * Scores less than 20 on the Mini-Mental State Examination * Does not have a study partner who can co-enroll in the study * Has contraindications for tDCS or MRI scan (History of seizures, head injury, craniotomy, skull surgery or fracture; History of severe or frequent migraines; Metallic implant in head or any metal in head; Pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator or any other stimulator; Chronic skin problems; Pregnancy) * Has a history of stroke, epilepsy, or significant brain injury
Where this trial is running
San Francisco, California and 1 other locations
- UCSF Memory and Aging Cener — San Francisco, California, United States (Recruiting)
- University of Texas — Austin, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Maya L Henry, PhD — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Aphasia Lab Research Coordinator
- Email: aphasialab@austin.utexas.edu
- Phone: 512-471-3420
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.