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The Effect of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation With Cognitive Training on Executive Brain Function in Individuals With Dementia: Protocol for a Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial
Jacobson N, Lithgow B, Jafari Jozani M, Moussavi Z.. JMIR research protocols, 2022-04-27
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Background Although memory and cognitive declines are associated with normal brain aging, they may also be precursors to dementia. Objective We aim to offer a novel approach to prevent or slow the progress of neurodegenerative dementia, or plausibly, improve the cognitive functions of individuals with dementia. Methods We will recruit and enroll 75 participants (older than 50 years old with either mild cognitive impairment or probable early or moderate dementia) for this double-blind randomized controlled study to estimate the efficacy of active transcranial alternating current stimulation with cognitive treatment (in comparison with sham transcranial alternating current stimulation). This will be a crossover study; a cycle consists of sham or active treatment for a period of 4 weeks (5 days per week, in two 30-minute sessions with a half-hour break in between), and participants are randomized into 2 groups, with stratification by age, sex, and cognitive level (measured with the Montreal Cognitive Assessment). Outcomes will be assessed before and after each treatment cycle. The primary outcomes are changes in Wechsler Memory Scale Older Adult Battery and Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale scores. Secondary outcomes are changes in performance on tests of frontal lobe functioning (verbal fluency), neuropsychiatric symptoms (Neuropsychiatric Inventory Questionnaire), mood changes (Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale), and short-term recall (visual 1-back task). Exploratory outcome measures will also be assessed: static and dynamic vestibular response using electrovestibulography, neuronal changes using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, and change in spatial orientation using virtual reality navigation. Results As of February 10, 2022, the study is ongoing: 7 patients have been screened, and all were deemed eligible for and enrolled in the study; 4 participants have completed baseline assessments. Conclusions We anticipate that transcranial alternating current stimulation will be a well-tolerated treatment, with no serious side effects and with considerable short- and long-term cognitive improvements. Trial registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT05203523; https://clinicaltrials.gov/show/NCT05203523. International registered report identifier (irrid) DERR1-10.2196/37282.
Key findings
- Background Although memory and cognitive declines are associated with normal brain aging, they may also be precursors to dementia.
- Results As of February 10, 2022, the study is ongoing: 7 patients have been screened, and all were deemed eligible for and enrolled in the study; 4 participants have completed baseline assessments.
Why it matters
This is a protocol for an ongoing trial testing brain stimulation combined with cognitive training in people with mild cognitive impairment or early to moderate dementia. Only screening and enrollment numbers are reported, so no effect on treating or preventing dementia has been shown.
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Study details
- Participants75
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (JMIR research protocols) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | JMIR Research Protocols: journal h-index 62 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 3 / 5 | 2022 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 75 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 11 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 1.8 citations a year over 6 year(s) since 2022 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 9 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Zahra Moussavi: h-index 35 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Monash University: institution h-index 1,146 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 35475789) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Jacobson, N., Lithgow, B., Jafari Jozani, M., & Moussavi, Z. (2022). The Effect of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation With Cognitive Training on Executive Brain Function in Individuals With Dementia: Protocol for a Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR research protocols. https://doi.org/10.2196/37282
Vancouver
Jacobson N, Lithgow B, Jafari Jozani M, Moussavi Z. The Effect of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation With Cognitive Training on Executive Brain Function in Individuals With Dementia: Protocol for a Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial. JMIR research protocols. 2022. doi:10.2196/37282. PMID: 35475789.
BibTeX
@article{jacobson2022-35475789,
author = {Jacobson, N. and Lithgow, B. and Jafari Jozani, M. and Moussavi, Z.},
title = {{The Effect of Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation With Cognitive Training on Executive Brain Function in Individuals With Dementia: Protocol for a Crossover Randomized Controlled Trial}},
journal = {JMIR research protocols},
year = {2022},
doi = {10.2196/37282},
pmid = {35475789},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/37282}
}
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