AgingNCT07461584
Memory Enhancement in Aging With Optimal Dosing
A study testing 1-day patterned tACS, 3-day patterned tACS and 5-day patterned tACS in people with Aging and Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, run by Boston University Charles River Campus at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
This project optimizes high-resolution transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) to improve memory in healthy older adults, advancing drug-free approaches for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Aging, Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Memory
- What is being tested?
- 1-day patterned tACS, 3-day patterned tACS and 5-day patterned tACS
- Type of treatment
- Medical device
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 240 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2026to 31 Jan 2031
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
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 65 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 65 years of age or older
- normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- color vision
Who cannot join
- pregnant
- metal implants in head
- implanted electronic devices
- history of neurological problems or head injury
- skin sensitivity
- claustrophobia
Show all 11Show fewer
- dementia (normal Montreal Cognitive Assessment > 25)
- depression (normal Geriatric Depression Scale < 10)
- history of psychosis
- cognitive deficits (MoCA>25)
- any psychoactive medication
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
United States1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
111 Cummington Mall
Boston, Massachusetts, 02215
Robert Reinhart, PhD, 617-353-9481, rmgr@bu.edu
About this study
Official title: Personalized Memory Enhancement in Aging: Pattern-Optimized tACS With Closed-Loop Precision Modulation
This project optimizes high-resolution transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) to improve memory in healthy older adults, advancing drug-free approaches for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). We test stimulation schedules and develop an adaptive, brain-guided tACS system to strengthen memory-supporting networks.
Read the detailed description
Cognitive decline, especially in memory and executive control, poses an escalating public health challenge as the population ages, contributing to loss of independence, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Despite decades of research, there are few effective, non-pharmacological interventions capable of slowing or reversing these cognitive losses. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has recently emerged as a promising, safe, and non-invasive technique for modulating neural rhythms that support memory. However, existing approaches remain limited by one-size-fits-all stimulation schedules that fail to account for individual brain connectivity patterns or dynamic fluctuations in cognitive state.
This project aims to advance precision neuromodulation for cognitive aging by optimizing and personalizing high-resolution tACS protocols to enhance memory in older adults. Building on strong pilot data demonstrating the feasibility of personalized and adaptive stimulation, we will use multimodal imaging (EEG and fMRI) to track changes in frontotemporal synchrony, specifically theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling and theta phase synchronization, that are known to support memory formation and retrieval.
Aim 1 will establish how stimulation pattern (patterned vs. continuous waveforms) and schedule (one, three, or five consecutive days) shape the durability of memory enhancement. By comparing six systematically varied dosing protocols, we will determine the optimal pattern and repetition schedule that maximize and sustain improvements in working memory capacity, interference control, and long-term memory recognition over one month.
By integrating behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging measures with adaptive control algorithms, this research will identify reliable biomarkers of responsiveness, elucidate causal mechanisms linking neural synchrony to memory, and yield a new class of personalized, connectivity-guided interventions for cognitive decline. The findings will lay a foundation for scalable, non-invasive, and mechanism-driven treatments for ADRD and age-related memory loss, advancing the broader NIH mission of promoting healthy cognitive aging.
- Conditions
- Aging, Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Memory
- Being tested
- 1-day patterned tACS, 3-day patterned tACS, 5-day patterned tACS, 1-day continuous tACS, 3-day continuous tACS
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
1-day patterned tACSDevice
Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability.
3-day patterned tACSDevice
Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability.
5-day patterned tACSDevice
Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability.
1-day continuous tACSDevice
Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability.
3-day continuous tACSDevice
Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability.
5-day continuous tACSDevice
Device: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day patterned tACS | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: 1-day patterned tACS |
| 3-day patterned tACS | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: 3-day patterned tACS |
| 5-day patterned tACS | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: 5-day patterned tACS |
| 1-day continuous tACS | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: 1-day continuous tACS |
| 3-day continuous tACS | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: 3-day continuous tACS |
| 5-day continuous tACS | Experimental | Not described Receives: Device: 5-day continuous tACS |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Visual working memory capacity measured behaviorally
Behavioral k-capacity estimate derived from the change-detection task
Measured: Baseline, 1-week after intervention, 1-month after intervention
Interruption suppression measured behaviorally
Memory accuracy performance difference between interruption and control trials on the interruption working memory task
Measured: Baseline, 1-week after intervention, 1-month after intervention
EEG phase locking value (PLV) during working memory retention
Phase locking value between frontotemporal EEG electrodes within the theta frequency band during the memory retention interval of the visual working memory task
Measured: Baseline, 1-week after intervention, 1-month after intervention
EEG phase amplitude coupling (PAC) during working memory retention
Theta phase gamma amplitude cross-frequency coupling at temporal EEG electrodes during the memory retention interval of the visual working memory task
Measured: Baseline, 1-week after intervention, 1-month after intervention
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted10 Mar 2026
- Study start1 Jun 2026
- Primary completion31 Jan 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion31 Jan 2031 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for AgingStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 240 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Boston University Charles River Campus
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Robert Reinhart, PhD, Principal investigator, Boston University Charles River Campus
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07461584
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 4230E_3
- Status last verified
- Jul 2026
- First submitted
- 9 Feb 2026
- Last updated
- 22 Jul 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- Yes
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 22 Jul 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Personalized Memory Enhancement in Aging: Pattern-Optimized tACS With Closed-Loop Precision Modulation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07461584
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 4230E_3
- Conditions
- Aging, Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, Memory
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 240 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Boston University Charles River CampusUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2026 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Jan 2031 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 31 Jan 2031 (estimated)
- First posted
- 10 Mar 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This project optimizes high-resolution transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) to improve memory in healthy older adults, advancing drug-free approaches for Alzheimer's disease and related dementia (ADRD). We test stimulation schedules and develop an adaptive, brain-guided tACS system to strengthen memory-supporting networks.
Detailed description
Cognitive decline, especially in memory and executive control, poses an escalating public health challenge as the population ages, contributing to loss of independence, reduced quality of life, and increased healthcare costs associated with Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD). Despite decades of research, there are few effective, non-pharmacological interventions capable of slowing or reversing these cognitive losses. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) has recently emerged as a promising, safe, and non-invasive technique for modulating neural rhythms that support memory. However, existing approaches remain limited by one-size-fits-all stimulation schedules that fail to account for individual brain connectivity patterns or dynamic fluctuations in cognitive state.
This project aims to advance precision neuromodulation for cognitive aging by optimizing and personalizing high-resolution tACS protocols to enhance memory in older adults. Building on strong pilot data demonstrating the feasibility of personalized and adaptive stimulation, we will use multimodal imaging (EEG and fMRI) to track changes in frontotemporal synchrony, specifically theta-gamma phase-amplitude coupling and theta phase synchronization, that are known to support memory formation and retrieval.
Aim 1 will establish how stimulation pattern (patterned vs. continuous waveforms) and schedule (one, three, or five consecutive days) shape the durability of memory enhancement. By comparing six systematically varied dosing protocols, we will determine the optimal pattern and repetition schedule that maximize and sustain improvements in working memory capacity, interference control, and long-term memory recognition over one month.
By integrating behavioral, electrophysiological, and neuroimaging measures with adaptive control algorithms, this research will identify reliable biomarkers of responsiveness, elucidate causal mechanisms linking neural synchrony to memory, and yield a new class of personalized, connectivity-guided interventions for cognitive decline. The findings will lay a foundation for scalable, non-invasive, and mechanism-driven treatments for ADRD and age-related memory loss, advancing the broader NIH mission of promoting healthy cognitive aging.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 6
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day patterned tACS | Experimental | Device: 1-day patterned tACS |
| 3-day patterned tACS | Experimental | Device: 3-day patterned tACS |
| 5-day patterned tACS | Experimental | Device: 5-day patterned tACS |
| 1-day continuous tACS | Experimental | Device: 1-day continuous tACS |
| 3-day continuous tACS | Experimental | Device: 3-day continuous tACS |
| 5-day continuous tACS | Experimental | Device: 5-day continuous tACS |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- 65 years of age or older
- normal or corrected-to-normal vision
- color vision
Key exclusion criteria (11 listed)
- pregnant
- metal implants in head
- implanted electronic devices
- history of neurological problems or head injury
- skin sensitivity
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 1-day patterned tACSDevice: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability. | Device | 1-day patterned tACS |
| 3-day patterned tACSDevice: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability. | Device | 3-day patterned tACS |
| 5-day patterned tACSDevice: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability. | Device | 5-day patterned tACS |
| 1-day continuous tACSDevice: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability. | Device | 1-day continuous tACS |
| 3-day continuous tACSDevice: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability. | Device | 3-day continuous tACS |
| 5-day continuous tACSDevice: High definition transcranial electrical current stimulation Low-intensity, noninvasive application of electrical current to the human scalp with the goal of modulating levels of neuronal excitability. | Device | 5-day continuous tACS |
Primary outcome
Visual working memory capacity measured behaviorally
Time frame: Baseline, 1-week after intervention, 1-month after intervention
Behavioral k-capacity estimate derived from the change-detection task
Interruption suppression measured behaviorally
Time frame: Baseline, 1-week after intervention, 1-month after intervention
Memory accuracy performance difference between interruption and control trials on the interruption working memory task
EEG phase locking value (PLV) during working memory retention
Time frame: Baseline, 1-week after intervention, 1-month after intervention
Phase locking value between frontotemporal EEG electrodes within the theta frequency band during the memory retention interval of the visual working memory task
EEG phase amplitude coupling (PAC) during working memory retention
Time frame: Baseline, 1-week after intervention, 1-month after intervention
Theta phase gamma amplitude cross-frequency coupling at temporal EEG electrodes during the memory retention interval of the visual working memory task
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 22 Jul 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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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.
Robert Reinhart, PhD principal investigator
Boston University Charles River Campus
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing 1-day patterned tACS, 3-day patterned tACS and 5-day patterned tACS in people with Aging and Noninvasive Brain Stimulation, run by Boston University Charles River Campus 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 3 inclusion and 11 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: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 22 Jul 2026. 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?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Contact Robert Reinhart, PhD ((617) 353-9481, rmgr@bu.edu), or a site near the patient. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Visual working memory capacity measured behaviorally (time frame: Baseline, 1-week after intervention, 1-month after intervention). The study lists 4 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 22 Jul 2026.