Health TrialsbyHealthPanel

Enhancing Language Function in Primary Progressive Aphasia

ConditionPrimary Progressive Aphasia
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age45-80
SponsorUniversity of Arizona

About this trial

This study's goal is to use non-invasive brain stimulation (NBS) techniques to treat language impairment associated with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA). The purpose of this study is to combine behavioral language intervention with individualized noninvasive brain stimulation techniques, called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to help the brain reorganize around damage and improve language functions.

Eligibility criteria

This trial does not accept healthy volunteers

Qualifiers

diagnosed with PPA by neurologist or speech-language pathologist

speech-language deficit arising from PPA

native speaker of English Language or equivalent

adequate vision (normal or corrected to normal)

Disqualifiers

meeting (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) DSM-IV criteria for Axis I mood, anxiety, psychotic or substance abuse disorders.

highly magnetizable metallic implants, including certain dental work

neurological disorders besides the ones of interest for the study (e.g., epilepsy)

Multiple Sclerosis

Trial design

Design model

Crossover

Treatments tested in this trial

  • tDCS + language therapy

    Combination product

    In this study fMRI-guided noninvasive neuromodulation will be applied, called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to the frontal and parietal brain regions that show reduced activation but still are structurally intact. TDCS will be paired with personalized speech-language therapy to enhance language functions.

  • sham TDCS + language therapy

    Combination product

    sham control will be applied with language therapy to the same regions as active TDCS.

Treatment groups

20 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groups
Group A: active TDCSExperimental treatment 1 intervention
Group B: sham TDCSSham comparator 1 intervention

Trial outcomes

Primary outcomes

1

Mean change from baseline scores on the Arizona Phonological Battery

Mean change from baseline scores on the Arizona Phonological Battery: Minimum score = 0; maximum = 100%; higher scores indicate better outcome

Time frame
through study completion, an average of 1 year
2

Mean change from baseline scores on the naming task

Mean change from baseline scores on the Boston Naming Test: Min score = 0; Max = 60; higher scores indicate better outcome

Time frame
through study completion, an average of 1 year
3

Mean change from baseline scores on the language probe task before and after each session

change on on the probe task from before the session; Min =0; Max = 100%; higher scores indicate better outcome

Time frame
through study completion, an average of 1 year

Secondary outcomes

Other outcomes

Sponsors and contacts

Click on the lead sponsor to view all of their trials.

University of Arizona

Lead sponsor

Source ClinicalTrials.gov
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