N/A N=12 Randomized Single-blind Treatment

Post-stroke Fatigue, Inflammation, tDCS

Stroke · Fatigue · Chronic Stroke · Stroke Sequelae

Bottom Line

View on ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT05330988 ↗

Enrolled (actual)

Serious AEs

0.0%

Results posted

Dec 2024

Primary outcome: Primary: Change in Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) Score — -0.4; 0.2 units on a scale

Study Design & Population

Study type: Interventional
Phase: N/A
Interventions: anodal transcranial direct current stimulation (a-tDCS) (Device); sham stimulation (Device)
Age: Adult, Older Adult · 35+ yrs
Sex: All
Sponsor: Medical University of South Carolina
Primary completion: Oct 2023

Outcome Measures

Outcome	Result	p-value
PRIMARY Change in Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) Score	-0.4; 0.2	—
SECONDARY Change in Fatigue Assessment Scale (FAS)	-7; -4	—

Summary

Fatigue is a common condition after an individual has a stroke. While the negative impacts of post-stroke fatigue are well known, the knowledge of the causes of post-stroke fatigue and effective treatments for post-stroke fatigue are lacking. This small study will investigate the possible benefits of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which uses small electrical currents supplied by a 9-volt battery, on post-stroke fatigue and investigate tDCS' possible anti-inflammatory effects.

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

Men and women of any race or ethnicity
35-80 years of age
6+ months post-stroke
Have clinically present fatigue for 6 months
Able to walk 10m unassisted

Exclusion Criteria

Absolute contraindications to MRI, TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation), or tDCS (e.g., implanted metal devices, history of seizure, and surgical clips or staples)
Inability to understand and provide written informed consent
Multiple strokes on opposite hemispheres
Diagnosed comorbid neurological conditions (e.g. multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, and dementia)
Severe hypertension
Cerebellar or brainstem strokes/lesions
Concurrent depression and/or anxiety disorders

View full record on ClinicalTrials.gov →

Data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05330988). 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.