Improving word retrieval in Gulf War veterans using brain stimulation
Treatment of Memory Disorders in Gulf War Illness With High Definition Transcranial Direct Cortical Stimulation
This study is testing if a special brain stimulation can help Gulf War veterans who have trouble finding words improve their memory and communication skills.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 120 (estimated) |
| Ages | 45 Years to 78 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | The University of Texas at Dallas Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Dallas, Texas) |
| Trial ID | NCT03542383 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to address memory disorders, specifically word finding difficulties, in veterans of the Gulf War by utilizing High Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD tDCS). The researchers have identified key brain regions involved in verbal retrieval and will apply HD tDCS to stimulate the PreSupplementary Motor Area (preSMA) to enhance cognitive function. Participants will undergo 10 sessions of stimulation over a two-week period to assess improvements in their ability to retrieve words and communicate effectively.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates are US military veterans who served during the Gulf War and are experiencing word retrieval deficits.
Not a fit: Patients with a history of neurological disorders or who are non-English speakers may not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this treatment could significantly improve verbal retrieval abilities in Gulf War veterans suffering from memory disorders.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have shown promise in using HD tDCS for similar cognitive deficits in other patient populations, suggesting potential for success in this novel application.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * US military veterans serving during the 1990-1991 GW and were deployed to the theater of operations in Southwest Asia (i.e., Iraq, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia) who are capable of understanding and signing an informed consent document. * between the ages of 18 and 50 years old DURING SERVICE in the Gulf War (born between 1940 and 1973). * Any gender, race/ethnicity, and both enlisted and officer ranks will be included. * English speakers because not all of the screening forms, questionnaires, and tests are available in languages other than English. * right-handed Exclusion Criteria: * non-English speakers because not all of the screening forms, questionnaires, and tests are available in any language except English. * a history of a neurological disorder, including dementia of any type, moderate to severe traumatic brain injury (TBI), brain tumors, present or past drug abuse, stroke, blood vessel abnormalities in the brain, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's disease, or multiple sclerosis. Traumatic brain injury will be screened by history. * anyone cognitively or clinically incompetent to give informed consent. * taking medications that interact with the tDCS effect including amphetamines, L-dopa, carbamazepine, sulpiride, pergolide, lorazepam, rivastigmine, dextromethorphan, D-cycloserine, flunarizine, ropinirole,or citalopram. * cardiac pacemakers, implanted medication pumps of any sort, or a history of bad heart disease, and/or the presence of any metal objects in or near the head which cannot be safely removed for the duration of this study which could be affected by tDCS or affect the administration of tDCS.
Where this trial is running
Dallas, Texas
- Callier Center for Communication Disorders at The University of Texas at Dallas — Dallas, Texas, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: John Hart, Jr, MD — The University of Texas at Dallas
- Study coordinator: Ellen Morris, PhD
- Email: neurolab@utdallas.edu
- Phone: 972-883-3171
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.