Personalized brain stimulation for stroke recovery

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

This study investigates the effects of personalized transcranial direct current stimulation (ptDCS) on stroke recovery by assessing its impact on brain connectivity and clinical improvement. It involves a randomized, sham-controlled, double-masked design where chronic stroke patients receive either active or sham stimulation during occupational therapy sessions. The goal is to determine if the personalized stimulation can enhance neural plasticity and improve motor function in the affected arm. Patients will have the option to crossover to receive the active treatment after an initial follow-up period.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

* Symptomatic ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke verified by computerized axial tomography or magnetic resonance imaging resulting in hemiparesis (MRC 1-4).
* Age more than 18, Male or Female, All racial and ethnic groups
* Entry into the study \>3 months post onset
* Modified Ashworth Scale Score \<3 in the involved upper extremity
* Passive range of motion within functional ranges at the shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand
* Able to follow 2 step commands

Exclusion Criteria:

* Patients with history of severe alcohol or drug abuse, psychiatric illnesses like severe depression, poor motivational capacity, or severe language disturbances, particularly of receptive nature or with serious cognitive deficits (defined as unable to follow study instructions).
* Patients with bilateral paresis, or weakness or sensory damage due to peripheral causes (e.g. peripheral nerve injury, muscle or orthopedic injury etc.)
* Patients with severe uncontrolled medical problems (e.g. cardiovascular disease, severe rheumatoid arthritis, active joint deformity of arthritic origin, active cancer or renal disease, any kind of end-stage pulmonary or cardiovascular disease, or a deteriorated condition due to age,epilepsy or others).
* Patients with unstable cardiac arrhythmia.
* Pregnancy
* Patients with metallic implants in the head, patients with pacemakers, patients with craniotomies, including burr holes who cannot be safely stimulated
* Patients with seizures
* Non-English speaking individuals will only be eligible if they can provide the appropriate translator for all the sessions of the study as no funding is available to pay for such services.

Where it's running

• Houston Methodist Hospital
  Houston, Texas, United States Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Timea Hodics, MD — The Methodist Hospital Research Institute
• Study coordinator: Neha Sudarshan, MD
• Email: nsudarshan@houstonmethodist.org
• Phone: 9082277275

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How to take part

1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.