N/A
Completed N=29
Optimizing tDCS to Improve Dual Task Gait and Balance
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04295798 ↗Enrolled (actual)
29
Serious AEs
0.0%
Results posted
Jan 2025
Primary outcomePrimary: Absolute Change in Dual Task Cost to Gait Speed From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention — -2.29; -3.88; 0.06; -0.10 unitless — p=0.02
Summary
The objective of this study is to determine the acute effects of single sessions of optimized tDCS, conventional tDCS, and sham stimulation on dual task standing and walking in older adults who are free of overt disease yet who present with poor baseline dual task performance.
Outcome Measures
| Outcome | Result | p-value |
|---|---|---|
| PRIMARY Absolute Change in Dual Task Cost to Gait Speed From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
-2.29; -3.88; 0.06; -0.10 | 0.02 sig |
| PRIMARY Absolute Change in Dual Task Cost to Standing Postural Sway Speed From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
-7.66; -5.97; 26.88; 5.06 | 0.02 sig |
| SECONDARY Absolute Change in Dual Task Cost to Stride Time Variability From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
-9.86; -24.96; 4.29; 0.84 | 0.04 sig |
| SECONDARY Absolute Change in Single Task Gait Speed From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
0.025; 0.031; 0.017; 0.014 | 0.56 |
| SECONDARY Absolute Change in Dual Task Gait Speed From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
0.046; 0.042; -0.002; 0.016 | 0.07 |
| SECONDARY Absolute Change in Single Task Stride Time Variability From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
-0.07; -0.04; -0.06; -0.03 | 0.74 |
| SECONDARY Absolute Change in Dual Task Stride Time Variability From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
-0.27; -0.23; -0.16; -0.13 | 0.33 |
| SECONDARY Absolute Change in Dual Task Cost to Standing Postural Sway Area From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
-23.17; -3.18; 21.45; -3.23 | 0.16 |
| SECONDARY Absolute Change in Single Task Postural Sway Speed From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
0.013; -0.018; -0.028; 0.0078 | 0.52 |
| SECONDARY Absolute Change in Dual Task Postural Sway Speed From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
-0.0056; -0.0029; 0.063; -0.0001 | 0.01 sig |
| SECONDARY Absolute Change in Single Task Postural Sway Area From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
0.0049; -0.001; 0.0025; 0.01 | 0.39 |
| SECONDARY Absolute Change in Dual Task Postural Sway Area From Baseline to Immediately Post Intervention |
-0.0081; -0.0091; 0.0025; 0.0086 | 0.18 |
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria
- Men and women aged 65-85 years
- Poor dual task performance, defined as a preferred gait speed that is >10% slower when walking and simultaneously performing verbalized serial subtractions (i.e., dual tasking), as compared to walking normally (i.e. single tasking)
Exclusion Criteria
- Unwillingness to cooperate or participate in the study protocol
- An inability to walk or stand for 30 continuous seconds without an assistive device
- A diagnosis of a gait disorder, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease or dementia, multiple sclerosis, previous stroke or other neurodegenerative disorder
- Self-report of acute illness, injury or other unstable medical condition; Any report of severe lower-extremity arthritis or pain, physician-diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, or other peripheral neuromuscular disease that may confound the effects of tDCS on gait or postural control
- Use of antipsychotics, anti-seizure, benzodiazepines, or other neuroactive medications
- Severe depression defined by a Geriatric Depression Scale score greater than 11;
- Any report or physician-diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder or other psychiatric illness
- Contraindications to MRI or tDCS, including reported seizure within the past two years, use of neuro-active drugs, the risk of metal objects anywhere in the body, self-reported presence of specific implanted medical devices (e.g., deep brain stimulator, medication infusion pump, cochlear implant, pacemaker, etc.), or the presence of any active dermatological condition, such as eczema, on the scalp
Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT04295798). Outcome figures and adverse-event rates are extracted automatically from the registry's posted results and are provided for clinician reference, not as a substitute for the primary publication. Informational only — not medical advice.