Home Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) to Enhance Functional Recovery

Launched by MAYO CLINIC · Jul 17, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is exploring whether a treatment called Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), which uses gentle electrical currents on the head, can be safely and effectively done at home to help improve thinking and language skills. The study combines this treatment with a home-based therapy program aimed at helping people recover better after having a stroke, brain tumors, or certain brain diseases that affect memory and communication. The goal is to see if this approach can make a positive difference in daily life and overall quality of life.

People who might join the study are adults aged 65 to 74 who have had a stroke, brain tumor treatment, or a neurodegenerative condition like Parkinson’s or Alzheimer’s, and who are at least three months past their initial illness or treatment. Participants should have some difficulties with language or thinking that impact their daily lives. They also need to be medically stable and able to take part in the study, or have someone legally allowed to consent for them if they can’t do so themselves. If accepted, participants will use the tDCS device and do therapy activities at home. It’s important to know that the study is not yet recruiting, and people who are pregnant, have epilepsy, or have certain implants that don’t work well with tDCS won’t be able to join.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • At least 3 months after ischemic/hemorrhagic/anoxic stroke or 3 months after completion of cranial radiation or cranial surgery for treatment of primary or metastatic intracranial tumors or neurodegenerative conditions include, but are not limited to, primary progressive aphasia, corticobasal syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy, Parkinson's disease, and Alzheimer's disease dementia.
• • Expected survival \>6 months
• • Functional impairment in the domains of language and/or cognition affecting quality of life determined by PI.
• • Have a legally authorized representative who is able to sign on their behalf in unable to consent for themselves (ex., individuals with aphasia).
• • Have a legally authorized representative who is able to sign on their behalf in unable to consent for themselves (ex., individuals with aphasia).
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Pregnancy
• • Contraindication to tDCS, including metallic implanted objects.
• • Medical instability or inability to cooperate during the study as assessed by the treating physician to participate in the study.
• • Individuals with epilepsy