Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation to Treat Word Finding Difficulty in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury

Launched by BETH ISRAEL DEACONESS MEDICAL CENTER · Feb 21, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a special type of brain stimulation, called high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS), can help people with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who have difficulty finding words. The aim is to see if this gentle stimulation can improve memory and word retrieval in individuals who have been living with these challenges for at least a year.

To be eligible for the study, participants need to be between 18 and 85 years old, fluent in English, and able to give consent. They must have a history of TBI unrelated to military service and show signs of word-finding difficulties. However, individuals with certain medical conditions, severe depression, or those currently receiving speech and cognitive therapy won't be able to participate. If someone decides to join the study, they will receive brain stimulation sessions and be monitored for any changes in their word-finding abilities. This research aims to provide new insights into improving cognitive symptoms for people affected by TBI.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Age between 18 and 85
• • Fluent in speaking and reading English
• • Able to provide informed consent
• • Has a TBI at least one year prior to enrollment and not related to military experience
• • Has a confirmation of verbal retrieval difficulties as measured by the Verbal Retrieval Difficulty Interview questions
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Lifetime major or active neurologic conditions (e.g., stroke, epilepsy, brain tumor, dementia, seizure occurrence less than one year ago)
• • Lifetime major or active cardiovascular conditions (e.g., cardiac arrythmia, heart failure, heart attack)
• • Current substance use disorder
• • Lifetime major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder)
• • Severe depression at the time of enrollment (BDI-II \>= 29) or psychiatric ER visits or hospitalization less than 6 months ago prior to enrollment
• • Current sensory (e.g., blind, deaf) or physical (e.g., severe motor weakness) impairment that interferes with testing
• • Contraindications for tDCS or MRI
• • The person cannot be left alone for 8+ hours.
• • Not verbally communicative.
• • Currently undergoing and not wishing to discontinue speech and cognitive therapy during study participation.
• • Incapable of understanding the consent or unable to consent for oneself.
• • Unable to travel to BIDMC's Berenson-Allen Center
• • Pregnancy