Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)NCT07863518
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Combined With Tai Chi for Dual-Task Mobility and Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Cognitive Decline
A study testing Tai Chi and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Self-Reported Memory Concerns, run by Shanghai University of Sport at 2 sites in China.
Trial summary
This randomized clinical trial evaluated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with Tai Chi on dual-task mobility, cognitive function, and physical function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or self-reported memory concerns. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 65 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), Self-Reported Memory Concerns
- What is being tested?
- Tai Chi and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 61 participants
- Where
- 2 sitesChina
- Study dates
- 1 Dec 2024to 15 Aug 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
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
- No healthy volunteers
- Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 65 years or older.
- Self-reported memory decline or memory concern.
- Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) global score of 0.5 or lower.
- No major difficulties in performing activities of daily living.
- Ability to participate safely in supervised moderate-intensity physical activity.
- Willingness to participate in the study.
Who cannot join
- Clinical diagnosis of dementia or a Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B) score below the prespecified education-specific cutoff suggestive of dementia (<13 for participants with 6 or fewer years of education, <15 for those with 7-12 years, and <16 for those with more than 12 years of education).
- Neurologic disease, such as Parkinson disease or stroke, musculoskeletal disorders, or other conditions precluding safe participation in Tai Chi training.
- Contraindications to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), such as intracranial metal implants.
- Regular participation in moderate-intensity exercise or Tai Chi (>3 sessions per week for >20 minutes per session) within the preceding 3 months.
- Participation in a structured cognitive intervention or pharmacologic clinical trial within the preceding year.
Trial locations and contacts
2 sites in 1 country.
China2 sites
Maogang Town Elderly Care Service Center
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality
Xinqiao Town Elderly Care Service Center
Shanghai, Shanghai Municipality
About this study
Official title: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation With Tai Chi for Dual-Task Mobility and Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Cognitive Decline
This randomized clinical trial evaluated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with Tai Chi on dual-task mobility, cognitive function, and physical function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or self-reported memory concerns. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either Tai Chi combined with tDCS or Tai Chi alone for 8 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at Weeks 8, 20, and 32. Outcome measures included dual-task Timed Up and Go (DT-TUG) time, single-task TUG, dual-task cost, Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B), Digit Span Test, balance, gait, lower-extremity function, health-related quality of life, sleep quality, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.
- Being tested
- Tai Chi, Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
- Medical subject headings
- Cognitive Dysfunction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Tai ChiBehavioural
An 8-week supervised Tai Chi program consisting of 40 planned sessions (5 sessions per week, 40 minutes per session). Each session included a 5-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of Tai Chi practice, and a 5-minute cool-down. The curriculum was adapted from a tailored Tai Ji Quan protocol based on the standardized 24-form Yang-style sequence and included eight forms practiced on both sides when applicable.
Transcranial Direct Current StimulationDevice
Model-guided transcranial direct current stimulation targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was delivered using a Starstim system (Neuroelectrics, Barcelona, Spain) with a four-electrode Ag/AgCl gel montage. Twenty stimulation sessions were planned over 8 weeks. Each session lasted 20 minutes and was administered immediately before Tai Chi practice. The montage consisted of an anodal electrode at F3 (+1500 μA) and cathodal return electrodes at AF4 (-545 μA), FC5 (-523 μA), and FC1 (-432 μA). The current delivered through any single electrode did not exceed 1.5 mA, and the total injected current remained below 4 mA. Each session included 59-second ramp-up and ramp-down periods.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Intervention | Experimental | Participants received an 8-week supervised Tai Chi program combined with 20 sessions of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-targeted transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Each tDCS session lasted 20 minutes and was administered immediately before Tai Chi practice. Receives: Behavioral: Tai Chi; Device: Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation |
| Tai Chi Only | Active comparator | Participants received the same 8-week supervised Tai Chi program without tDCS. Receives: Behavioral: Tai Chi |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change From Baseline in Dual-Task Timed Up and Go (DT-TUG) Time
Dual-task mobility was assessed using the Timed Up and Go test performed while simultaneously completing serial subtraction by 3 from a three-digit number. DT-TUG time was recorded in seconds and averaged across three trials. Shorter times indicate better dual-task mobility. Changes from baseline were assessed at Weeks 8, 20, and 32.
Measured: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32
Secondary outcomes (4)
Change From Baseline in Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B) Total Score
Global cognitive function was assessed using the Chinese version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B). Total scores range from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better global cognitive function. Change from baseline in MoCA-B total score was evaluated at each post-intervention assessment.
Measured: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32
Change From Baseline in Dual-Task Cost to Timed Up and Go Time
Dual-task cost (DTC) to TUG time was calculated as [(dual-task TUG time - single-task TUG time) / single-task TUG time] × 100 and expressed as a percentage. Lower values indicate a smaller performance cost associated with performing the cognitive task during mobility.
Measured: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32
Change From Baseline in Digit Span Test-Forward Score
Attention and short-term memory were assessed using the Digit Span Test-Forward. Higher scores indicate better performance.
Measured: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32
Change From Baseline in Digit Span Test-Backward Score
Working memory was assessed using the Digit Span Test-Backward. Higher scores indicate better performance.
Measured: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Oct 2026
- Study start1 Dec 2024
- Primary completion28 Feb 2025
- Study completion15 Aug 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)Studies 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
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 61 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Shanghai University of Sport
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jiaojiao Lü, PhD, Shanghai University of Sport
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07863518
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 102772024RT149
- Other IDs
- 12302418
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 25 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 7 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Oct 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation With Tai Chi for Dual-Task Mobility and Cognitive Function in Older Adults With Cognitive Decline
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07863518
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 102772024RT149
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 61 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Shanghai University of SportUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Dec 2024 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 28 Feb 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 15 Aug 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Oct 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 randomized clinical trial evaluated the effects of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) combined with Tai Chi on dual-task mobility, cognitive function, and physical function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment or self-reported memory concerns. Participants were randomly assigned to receive either Tai Chi combined with tDCS or Tai Chi alone for 8 weeks. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at Weeks 8, 20, and 32. Outcome measures included dual-task Timed Up and Go (DT-TUG) time, single-task TUG, dual-task cost, Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B), Digit Span Test, balance, gait, lower-extremity function, health-related quality of life, sleep quality, anxiety, and depressive symptoms.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Combined Intervention | Experimental | Behavioral: Tai Chi, Device: Transcranial Direct Current StimulationParticipants received an 8-week supervised Tai Chi program combined with 20 sessions of left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex-targeted transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). Each tDCS session lasted 20 minutes and was administered immediately before Tai Chi practice. |
| Tai Chi Only | Active comparator | Behavioral: Tai ChiParticipants received the same 8-week supervised Tai Chi program without tDCS. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 65 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Age 65 years or older.
- Self-reported memory decline or memory concern.
- Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) global score of 0.5 or lower.
- No major difficulties in performing activities of daily living.
- Ability to participate safely in supervised moderate-intensity physical activity.
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Clinical diagnosis of dementia or a Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B) score below the prespecified education-specific cutoff suggestive of dementia (<13 for participants with 6 or fewer years of education, <15 for those with 7-12 years, and <16 for those with more than 12 years of education).
- Neurologic disease, such as Parkinson disease or stroke, musculoskeletal disorders, or other conditions precluding safe participation in Tai Chi training.
- Contraindications to transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), such as intracranial metal implants.
- Regular participation in moderate-intensity exercise or Tai Chi (>3 sessions per week for >20 minutes per session) within the preceding 3 months.
- Participation in a structured cognitive intervention or pharmacologic clinical trial within the preceding year.
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Tai ChiAn 8-week supervised Tai Chi program consisting of 40 planned sessions (5 sessions per week, 40 minutes per session). Each session included a 5-minute warm-up, 30 minutes of Tai Chi practice, and a 5-minute cool-down. The curriculum was adapted from a tailored Tai Ji Quan protocol based on the standardized 24-form Yang-style sequence and included eight forms practiced on both sides when applicable. | Behavioural | Combined Intervention, Tai Chi Only |
| Transcranial Direct Current StimulationModel-guided transcranial direct current stimulation targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex was delivered using a Starstim system (Neuroelectrics, Barcelona, Spain) with a four-electrode Ag/AgCl gel montage. Twenty stimulation sessions were planned over 8 weeks. Each session lasted 20 minutes and was administered immediately before Tai Chi practice. The montage consisted of an anodal electrode at F3 (+1500 μA) and cathodal return electrodes at AF4 (-545 μA), FC5 (-523 μA), and FC1 (-432 μA). The current delivered through any single electrode did not exceed 1.5 mA, and the total injected current remained below 4 mA. Each session included 59-second ramp-up and ramp-down periods. | Device | Combined Intervention |
Primary outcome
Change From Baseline in Dual-Task Timed Up and Go (DT-TUG) Time
Time frame: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32
Dual-task mobility was assessed using the Timed Up and Go test performed while simultaneously completing serial subtraction by 3 from a three-digit number. DT-TUG time was recorded in seconds and averaged across three trials. Shorter times indicate better dual-task mobility. Changes from baseline were assessed at Weeks 8, 20, and 32.
4 secondary outcomes
Change From Baseline in Montreal Cognitive Assessment-Basic (MoCA-B) Total Score
Time frame: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32
Change From Baseline in Dual-Task Cost to Timed Up and Go Time
Time frame: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32
Change From Baseline in Digit Span Test-Forward Score
Time frame: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32
Change From Baseline in Digit Span Test-Backward Score
Time frame: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Oct 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. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
2 sites in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Tai Chi and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in people with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Self-Reported Memory Concerns, run by Shanghai University of Sport at 2 sites in China.
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 6 inclusion and 5 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 Oct 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 2 sites in China. 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?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
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?
Change From Baseline in Dual-Task Timed Up and Go (DT-TUG) Time (time frame: Baseline to Weeks 8, 20, and 32). 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 Oct 2026.