NCT04920318 · RECRUITING
Enhancing Language Function in Primary Progressive Aphasia
This trial is testing whether pairing a mild electrical brain stimulation technique called tDCS with standard language therapy works better than language therapy alone for people with Primary Progressive Aphasia, a condition that progressively erodes the ability to speak and communicate. It is a Phase NA trial, meaning it sits outside the standard drug-approval pipeline — this is a device and behavioral intervention study focused on whether the combination improves language function.
You may qualify if
- 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)
- adequate hearing
You're excluded if
- 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
- Parkinson's Disease
- contraindications for MRI
- pacemakers
- metallic cardiac pumps
- valves
- magnetic materials such as surgical clips, implanted electronic perfusion pumps, or any other condition that would preclude proximity to a strong magnetic field.
- clinically significant claustrophobia
- severe systemic disease (e.g., renal failure)
- poor health
- pregnancy
- epileptic activity in the past 12 months
- family history of epilepsy or other seizure disorders
- brain surgery in the past
- metallic skull plates or implants
- skin lesions or skull damage
- excessive use of alcohol or drugs
- premorbid psychiatric disease affecting communication
- severe non-linguistic cognitive disturbances impeding language therapy
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2024-11-29