Memory Research Study

Last updated: January 26, 2022
Sponsor: N/A
Overall Status: Active - Recruiting

Phase

N/A

Condition

Mild Cognitive Impairment

Treatment

N/A

Clinical Study ID

TX249128
IRB #15-001366
  • Ages 60-90
  • All Genders
  • Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Summary

This study is looking for people aged 60-90 who have mild cognitive impairment. The study is also looking for people with normal cognition, as a comparison. The study is testing a medical device to determine whether brain stimulation improves memory.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion

You could be eligible for this study if:
-You are between 60 and 90.
-You are right-handed.
-You are fluent in English.
You either:
-Have mild cognitive impairment; or
-Have normal cognition.

You may not be eligible for this study if:
-You have, or have had, a significant neurological or psychiatric condition including history of brain damage or dependence on drugs or alcohol.
-You cannot have an MRI scan, for example because of metal in your body.

Study Design

Study Start date:
Estimated Completion Date:

Study Description

Study schedule:
There will be 8 days of study visits.
-The visits on Days 1, 2, and 7 will take 1.5-2 hours.
-The visits on Days 3, 4, 5, 6, and 8 will take a maximum of 1 hour.
During the study visits, you will have memory assessments, brain scans, and brain stimulation.

Study activities may include:
-Doing memory assessments in the form of interview-style conversations, paper-and pencil questionnaires, computer tests, or other activities.
-Having brain scans (described below).
-Having the assigned brain stimulation (described below).

Treatment or experiment details:
-The brain scan is an MRI. For this, you will lie inside the scanning machine for about an hour while it takes a 3-D image of your brain.
-The brain stimulation is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). For this, a coil of wire inside a plastic casing will be placed against the surface of your scalp. Electricity will be passed through the coil in short pulses, creating magnetic fields. The magnetic fields will stimulate areas of the brain. Each session takes about 1 hour.
-The effect of TMS will be compared with the effect of placebo treatment. For placebo treatment, there will be pretend sessions that look and sound the same as active TMS, but no electricity will be passed through the coil.
-During the study, you will be assigned to have either:
Active TMS; or
Placebo TMS.
This will be determined randomly before the study starts, similar to flipping a coin.
-You will not know whether you are getting the active TMS or placebo TMS until after the study is over.

Additional details:
-Participants will receive $160. Participants can also have a picture of their brain and results of the study once it is completed.

Connect with a study center

  • Jane & Terry Semel Institute for Neuroscience and Human Behavior

    Los Angeles, California 90095
    United States

    Active - Recruiting

Not the study for you?

Let us help you find the best match. Sign up as a volunteer and receive email notifications when clinical trials are posted in the medical category of interest to you.