Actively Recruiting
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in the Treatment of Primary Progressive Aphasia
Led by Johns Hopkins University · Updated on 2026-05-05
180
Participants Needed
3
Research Sites
207 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
J
Johns Hopkins University
Lead Sponsor
N
National Institute on Aging (NIA)
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
While many have strongly suggested that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) may represent a beneficial intervention for patients with primary progressive aphasia (PPA), this promising technology has not yet been applied widely in clinical settings. This treatment gap is underscored by the absence of any neurally-focused standard-of-care treatments to mitigate the devastating impact of aphasia on patients' family, work, and social lives. Given that tDCS is inexpensive, easy to use (it is potentially amenable to home use by patients and caregivers), minimally invasive, and safe there is great promise to advance this intervention toward clinical use. The principal reason that tDCS has not found wide clinical application yet is that its efficacy has not been tested in large, multi-center, clinical trials. In this study, scientists in the three sites that have conducted tDCS clinical trials in North America-Johns Hopkins University and the University of Pennsylvania in the US, and the University of Toronto in Canada, will collaborate to conduct a multi-site, Phase II clinical trial of tDCS a population in dire need of better treatments.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in the Treatment of Primary Progressive Aphasia
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Presence of aphasia due to non-fluent or logopenic primary progressive aphasia
- High school education or higher
- Age between 50 and 90 years
- Ability to understand the study and provide informed consent
You will not qualify if you...
- Severe cognitive impairment preventing informed consent (MMSE less than 15)
- Neurologic or physical conditions unrelated to PPA that impair communication
- History of unrelated neurological conditions causing deficits, such as traumatic brain injury, stroke, or small vessel disease
- Additional neurological conditions that may reduce safety, including CNS vasculitis, intracranial tumor or aneurysm, multiple sclerosis, or arteriovenous malformations
- Medically unstable cardiopulmonary or metabolic disorders
- Presence of pacemakers or implantable cardiac defibrillators
- Terminal illness with survival under 12 months
- Major active psychiatric illness interfering with study procedures
- Current abuse of alcohol or drugs
- Participation in another drug, device, or biologics trial within 30 days prior to enrollment
- Nursing, pregnant, or intending pregnancy during the study
- Left-handedness
- History of seizures or unexplained loss of consciousness within 6 months
- Metallic objects in face or head except dental apparatus
- Previous craniotomy or skull breach
- MRI-specific exclusions including incompatible implants, pregnancy, claustrophobia, metal in eye or orbit, or tattooed eyeliner
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 3 locations
1
Johns Hopkins Hospital
Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287
Actively Recruiting
2
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States, 19104
Actively Recruiting
3
Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care
Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M6A 2E1
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
K
Kelly Eun, B.S.
CONTACT
K
Kyrana Tsapkini, PhD.
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
CROSSOVER
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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