Brain FogtDCSNCT05524233
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
A study testing Active Transcranial Direct Stimulation in people with Brain Fog, run by Baylor College of Medicine at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
Cognitive impairment refers to when an individual struggles to learn, concentrate, remember, or make decisions. This can be due to underlying neurological diseases (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, dementia, etc.), caused by viral illness (i.e. brain fog experienced by COVID-19 survivors) or physical trauma (i.e. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Brain Fog
- What is being tested?
- Active Transcranial Direct Stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 10 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 29 Sep 2022to 17 Apr 2023
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Yes, posted in the registrySummary in the doctors' view
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Adults (aged 18+) suffering from poor working memory, brain fog, or cognitive impairments (such as dementia, Alzheimer's, concussions, etc); ability to attend to the clinic for visits
Who cannot join
- Severe cognitive decline that reduces their ability to interact with the tDCS device; Major visual or hearing weakness reduces the ability to interact with tDCS device; Major foot problems such as active lower extremity wounds, major foot deformity (e.g., Charcot Foot), previous major amputations, and claudication; Demand-type cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, implanted metal plate in the brain or head, or other implanted electronic devices; Epilepsy, seizures, brain lesions, or severe heart disease; Sensitive skin or rash, broken skin, or open wounds; Pregnancy; and any conditions that may interfere with outcomes or increase the risk of the use tDCS based on the judgement of clinicians
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) For Improvement Of Cognitive Functioning, Brain Fog, And Working Memory
Cognitive impairment refers to when an individual struggles to learn, concentrate, remember, or make decisions. This can be due to underlying neurological diseases (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, dementia, etc.), caused by viral illness (i.e. brain fog experienced by COVID-19 survivors) or physical trauma (i.e. concussion). Recent reports indicate that two out of three Americans experience some amount of cognitive impairment in their lifetime.
There are a number of therapies that have been used to help address this condition. One of these is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which delivers sustained direct current to to the head area via electrodes. A number of studies have indicated that this form of therapy is safe and efficacious at inducing neuroplasticity and exciting neuronal activity. These factors can help improve aspects of cognitive functioning such as working memory, learning, and task performance.
The purpose of this pilot study is to examine the acceptability and proof of concept effectiveness of a wireless, transcranial direct current stimulation for people with cognitive impairments.
Read the detailed description
Sample size (n=10) is convenient and designed to explore acceptability and feasibility. Participants who are enrolled will be provided a tDCS device to use for a period of four weeks. They will have two study visits, baseline (BL) and the 4th week visit (W4). During each visit participants will answer various questionnaires to assess patient-reported outcomes such as sleep quality, cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and user acceptability.
The entire cohort will receive a transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) device which uses LIFTiD Neurostimulation technology (RPW TECHNOLOGY, LLC, New York, USA). Participants will take the device home and daily, they will use the device for a maximum of 20 minutes to stimulate neuroplasticity. During the stimulation period they will be asked to perform a light activity such as reading, checking emails, etc. The participants will return to the McNair Campus for their final visit after 4 weeks.
- Conditions
- Brain Fog
- Being tested
- Active Transcranial Direct Stimulation
- Keywords
- Cognitive impairment, Brain fog, Transcranial stimulation
- Medical subject headings
- Mental Fatigue, Cognitive Dysfunction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Active Transcranial Direct StimulationDevice
Subjects will receive a stimulation device to use up to 20 minutes daily for 4 weeks.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Transcranial Direct Stimulation | Experimental | Subjects will receive an active electrical stimulation device (tDCS) to use up to 20 minutes daily for 4 weeks. To deliver tDCS subjects will place a strap around their forehead area. Receives: Device: Active Transcranial Direct Stimulation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Perceived Ease of Use After 4 Weeks of Daily tDCS Use (TAM Score)
The perceived ease of use of tDCS will be assessed using a subscore of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire.
Participants will rate the device on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Extremely Difficult, 5 = Extremely Easy) across seven questions. The total score will range from 7 (extremely difficult) to 35 (extremely easy), with higher scores indicating greater ease of use. Questions will assess: (1) ease of use, (2) sponge preparation, (3) attaching sponges, (4) starting/stopping therapy, (5) charging, (6) mobility while wearing the device, and (7) task completion during use.
The TAM subscore will be calculated by summing individual scores, with median values reported as an overall measure of ease of use.
Measured: At 4 weeks
Perceived Usefulness After 4 Weeks of Daily tDCS Use (TAM Score)
The perceived usefulness of tDCS was assessed using a subscore of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire.
Participants rated the usefulness of the device on a 5-point scale: 1 = Decreased Significantly, 2 = Decreased, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Increased, 5 = Increased Significantly. Six questions were used to assess overall perceived usefulness, focusing on benefits related to mental activity, energy levels, memory, attention, concentration, and alertness. The total score ranged from 6 (not at all useful) to 30 (highly useful), with higher values indicating greater perceived usefulness.
The TAM subscore for perceived usefulness was calculated by summing the individual component scores and determining the median value across participants.
Measured: At 4 weeks
Attitude Towards Use After 4 Weeks of Daily tDCS Use (TAM Score)
The attitude toward use of the tDCS device was assessed using a subscale of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire.
Participants will rate their attitude toward use on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Extremely Difficult, 5 = Extremely Easy) based on two questions: (1) I would continue this therapy after completing the study, and (2) I would recommend this therapy to friends/family. The total score ranges from 2 (extremely difficult) to 10 (extremely easy), with higher scores reflecting a more positive attitude toward the device.
The TAM subscore is calculated by summing individual component scores, with median values reported, providing an overall measure of perceived ease of use and intention to use.
Measured: At 4 weeks
Secondary outcomes (3)
Change in Digit Memory Test Average Score at 4 Weeks Compared to Baseline
A digit memory test assesses short-term and working memory by having participants recall sequences of numbers presented in either the same order (forward) or reverse order (backward). Scores are based on the longest sequence accurately recalled, with higher scores indicating better memory capacity. This test is commonly used in cognitive evaluations and research to monitor memory function and detect impairments. Percentage of changes in the total score were assessed at the 4-week mark compared to baseline. The range will be -100% to +100%. A score of zero indicates no change in memory performance, positive values reflect improvement, and negative values indicate a decline in memory performance.
The average scores for all analyzed participants were reported.
Measured: Baseline - 4 weeks
Change in Hopkins Verbal Learning Test Total Score at 4 Weeks Compared to Baseline
The Hopkins Verbal Learning Test-Revised (HVLT-R) is a brief neuropsychological tool assessing verbal learning and memory. Participants recall 12 words across three trials (max score: 36) and a delayed recall trial (max score: 12), yielding a total score of 48, with higher scores indicating better memory.
Percentage changes in cumulative scores from baseline to week 4 were evaluated, with averages reported across all participants who completed the study. Scores range from -100% to +100%, where positive values indicate improvement, zero denotes no change, and negative values reflect a decline.
Measured: Baseline - 4 weeks
Changes in Trail Making Task (TMT) From Baseline
The Trail Making Task (TMT) is a neuropsychological test used to assess attention, processing speed, and task-switching. It consists of two parts: Part A (connecting numbered circles sequentially) and Part B (alternating between numbers and letters). Performance is measured in seconds (completion time) and errors, with shorter times and fewer mistakes indicating better cognitive function. This study reported changes in TMT completion times at week 4 compared to baseline for both parts. Negative values indicate improvement (reduction in completion time compared to baseline) in cognitive function.
Measured: Baseline - 4 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted1 Sep 2022
- Study start29 Sep 2022
- Primary completion17 Apr 2023
- Study completion17 Apr 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, outcome measures and adverse events reported by the sponsor.
- Other trials for Brain FogStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Baylor College of MedicineThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Device feasibility
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Model description
- All participants will be part of the intervention group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Baylor College of Medicine
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Bijan Najafi, PhD, Baylor College of Medicine
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05524233
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 52200
- Acronym
- tDCS
- Status last verified
- Mar 2025
- First submitted
- 30 Aug 2022
- Last updated
- 7 Mar 2025
- Results posted
- Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Mar 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) For Improvement Of Cognitive Functioning, Brain Fog, And Working Memory
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT05524233
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- tDCS / 52200
- Conditions
- Brain Fog
- Keywords
- Cognitive impairment, Brain fog, Transcranial stimulation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 10 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Baylor College of MedicineUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 29 Sep 2022 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 17 Apr 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 17 Apr 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 1 Sep 2022 (actual)
- Results
- Posted 7 Mar 2025
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
Cognitive impairment refers to when an individual struggles to learn, concentrate, remember, or make decisions. This can be due to underlying neurological diseases (i.e. Alzheimer's disease, dementia, etc.), caused by viral illness (i.e. brain fog experienced by COVID-19 survivors) or physical trauma (i.e. concussion). Recent reports indicate that two out of three Americans experience some amount of cognitive impairment in their lifetime.
There are a number of therapies that have been used to help address this condition. One of these is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which delivers sustained direct current to to the head area via electrodes. A number of studies have indicated that this form of therapy is safe and efficacious at inducing neuroplasticity and exciting neuronal activity. These factors can help improve aspects of cognitive functioning such as working memory, learning, and task performance.
The purpose of this pilot study is to examine the acceptability and proof of concept effectiveness of a wireless, transcranial direct current stimulation for people with cognitive impairments.
Detailed description
Sample size (n=10) is convenient and designed to explore acceptability and feasibility. Participants who are enrolled will be provided a tDCS device to use for a period of four weeks. They will have two study visits, baseline (BL) and the 4th week visit (W4). During each visit participants will answer various questionnaires to assess patient-reported outcomes such as sleep quality, cognitive impairment, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and user acceptability.
The entire cohort will receive a transcranial direct stimulation (tDCS) device which uses LIFTiD Neurostimulation technology (RPW TECHNOLOGY, LLC, New York, USA). Participants will take the device home and daily, they will use the device for a maximum of 20 minutes to stimulate neuroplasticity. During the stimulation period they will be asked to perform a light activity such as reading, checking emails, etc. The participants will return to the McNair Campus for their final visit after 4 weeks.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Device feasibility
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
- Model description
- All participants will be part of the intervention group
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Transcranial Direct Stimulation | Experimental | Device: Active Transcranial Direct StimulationSubjects will receive an active electrical stimulation device (tDCS) to use up to 20 minutes daily for 4 weeks. To deliver tDCS subjects will place a strap around their forehead area. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Adults (aged 18+) suffering from poor working memory, brain fog, or cognitive impairments (such as dementia, Alzheimer's, concussions, etc); ability to attend to the clinic for visits
Key exclusion criteria (1 listed)
- Severe cognitive decline that reduces their ability to interact with the tDCS device; Major visual or hearing weakness reduces the ability to interact with tDCS device; Major foot problems such as active lower extremity wounds, major foot deformity (e.g., Charcot Foot), previous major amputations, and claudication; Demand-type cardiac pacemaker, implanted defibrillator, implanted metal plate in the brain or head, or other implanted electronic devices; Epilepsy, seizures, brain lesions, or severe heart disease; Sensitive skin or rash, broken skin, or open wounds; Pregnancy; and any conditions that may interfere with outcomes or increase the risk of the use tDCS based on the judgement of clinicians
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Active Transcranial Direct StimulationSubjects will receive a stimulation device to use up to 20 minutes daily for 4 weeks. | Device | Transcranial Direct Stimulation |
Primary outcome
Perceived Ease of Use After 4 Weeks of Daily tDCS Use (TAM Score)
Time frame: At 4 weeks
The perceived ease of use of tDCS will be assessed using a subscore of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire. Participants will rate the device on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Extremely Difficult, 5 = Extremely Easy) across seven questions. The total score will range from 7 (extremely difficult) to 35 (extremely easy), with higher scores indicating greater ease of use. Questions will assess: (1) ease of use, (2) sponge preparation, (3) attaching sponges, (4) starting/stopping therapy, (5) charging, (6) mobility while wearing the device, and (7) task completion during use. The TAM subscore will be calculated by summing individual scores, with median values reported as an overall measure of ease of use.
Perceived Usefulness After 4 Weeks of Daily tDCS Use (TAM Score)
Time frame: At 4 weeks
The perceived usefulness of tDCS was assessed using a subscore of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire. Participants rated the usefulness of the device on a 5-point scale: 1 = Decreased Significantly, 2 = Decreased, 3 = Neutral, 4 = Increased, 5 = Increased Significantly. Six questions were used to assess overall perceived usefulness, focusing on benefits related to mental activity, energy levels, memory, attention, concentration, and alertness. The total score ranged from 6 (not at all useful) to 30 (highly useful), with higher values indicating greater perceived usefulness. The TAM subscore for perceived usefulness was calculated by summing the individual component scores and determining the median value across participants.
Attitude Towards Use After 4 Weeks of Daily tDCS Use (TAM Score)
Time frame: At 4 weeks
The attitude toward use of the tDCS device was assessed using a subscale of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) questionnaire. Participants will rate their attitude toward use on a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Extremely Difficult, 5 = Extremely Easy) based on two questions: (1) I would continue this therapy after completing the study, and (2) I would recommend this therapy to friends/family. The total score ranges from 2 (extremely difficult) to 10 (extremely easy), with higher scores reflecting a more positive attitude toward the device. The TAM subscore is calculated by summing individual component scores, with median values reported, providing an overall measure of perceived ease of use and intention to use.
3 secondary outcomes
Change in Digit Memory Test Average Score at 4 Weeks Compared to Baseline
Time frame: Baseline - 4 weeks
Change in Hopkins Verbal Learning Test Total Score at 4 Weeks Compared to Baseline
Time frame: Baseline - 4 weeks
Changes in Trail Making Task (TMT) From Baseline
Time frame: Baseline - 4 weeks
Results and safety
Loading the posted results from ClinicalTrials.gov…
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Mar 2025.
- Posted resultsParticipant flow, baseline, all outcome measures and adverse events.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Active Transcranial Direct Stimulation in people with Brain Fog, run by Baylor College of Medicine at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 1 inclusion and 1 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Mar 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
Yes. Results are posted in the registry (first posted 7 Mar 2025). A summary is in the For doctors view, and the full results are on ClinicalTrials.gov.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Perceived Ease of Use After 4 Weeks of Daily tDCS Use (TAM Score) (time frame: At 4 weeks). The study lists 3 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Mar 2025.