NCT02386670Active, not recruiting
Prevention of Alzheimer's Disease With CR Plus tDCS in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Depression (PACt-MD)
Prevention of Alzheimer's Dimentia With Cognitive Remediation Plus Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Depression
Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 9 Apr 2026
Brief summary (registry, in English)
This 7-year randomized controlled trial will compare the efficacy of non-invasive brain stimulation (trans-cranial Direct Current Stimulation - tDCS) combined with cognitive remediation (CR) versus sham ("placebo") tDCS combined with sham ("placebo") CR in slowing down cognitive decline and preventing Alzheimer's Dementia in older persons with mild cognitive impairment or major depressive disorder with or without mild cognitive impairment.
- Status (registry)
- Active, not recruiting
- Study type
- Interventional
- Enrollment
- 375 (actual)
- First submitted
- 27 Feb 2015
- Start date
- Jan 2015
- Primary completion date
- 31 Dec 2022
- Lead sponsor
- Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
- Diseases
- Depression, Alzheimer disease
- NCT number
- NCT02386670
What you commit to
- Study type: Interventional
- Participants enrolled: 375
- From Jan 2015 to the primary completion date, 31 Dec 2022
- 5 sites in 1 country
- Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them
Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.
Who cannot take part
Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.
Criteria the registry did not label
- MCI Group
- Inclusion:
- Age \> 60 (on day of randomization)
- DSM 5 criteria for Mild Neurocognitive Disorder ("MCI")
- Willingness to provide informed consent
- MADRS score of 10 or below
- Availability of a study partner who has regular contact with the participant
- Ability to read and communicate in English (with corrected vision and hearing, if needed)
- Exclusion:
- Met DSM 5 criteria for Major Depressive Episode in past 10 years
- Lifetime DSM 5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or OCD
- DSM 5 diagnosis of alcohol or other substances use disorder within the past 12 months
- High risk for suicide
- Significant neurological condition (e.g., stroke, seizure disorder, MS)
- Unstable medical illness, (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or hypertension)
- Having taken a cognitive enhancer (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor or memantine) within the past 6 weeks.
- Participants taking anticonvulsants, and other psychotropic medication (see exceptions below) that cannot be safely tapered and discontinued. The following psychotropic medications are allowed: i) any antidepressant; ii) zopiclone, trazadone, or a benzodiazepine if they have been taken at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry and; iii) gabapentin and pregabalin if they have been taken at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry AND if prescribed for chronic pain.
- A pace-maker or other metal implants that would preclude safe use of tDCS.
- MDD Group
- Inclusion:
- Age ≥ 65 (on day of randomization)
- Meets DSM 5 criteria for one or more MDE(s)with:
- an offset of 2 months to 5 years from the screening visit date. It is not necessary for this (these) episode(s) to have received medical attention OR
- an offset of 5 years or more from the screening visit date. It is necessary that at least one MDE received medical attention (e.g., previously been on one or more antidepressant(s), saw a psychiatrist, primary care physician, or had a previous hospitalization). Also, the MDE must have occurred during the participant's adult life (i.e., at 18 years of age or older).
- MADRS score of 10 or below
- Willingness to provide informed consent
- Availability of a study partner who has regular contact with the participant
- Ability to read and communicate in English (with corrected vision and hearing, if needed)
- Exclusion:
- Meets DSM 5 criteria for Major Neurocognitive Disorder ("dementia")
- Lifetime DSM 5 diagnosis of schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or OCD
- DSM 5 diagnosis of alcohol or other substances use disorder within the past 12 months.
- High risk for suicide.
- Significant neurological condition (e.g., stroke, seizure disorder, MS)
- Unstable medical illness (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or hypertension)
- Participants taking anticonvulsants, and other psychotropic medication (see exception below) that cannot be safely tapered and discontinued. In addition to any antidepressant, the following psychotropic medications are allowed if they have been taken at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks prior to study entry: zopiclone, trazodone, or a benzodiazepine; and gabapentin or pregabalin if prescribed for chronic pain.
- Having taken a cognitive enhancer (acetylcholinesterase inhibitor or memantine) within the past 6 weeks.
- A pace-maker or other metal implants that would preclude safe use of tDCS.
- Received electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) within 6 months of baseline neruopsychological testing.
- Control group
- Inclusion:
- Age \> 60
- MADRS score of 10 or below
- Willingness to provide informed consent
- Ability to read and communicate in English (with corrected vision and hearing, if needed)
- Exclusion:
- Meets DSM 5 criteria for Minor or Major Neurocognitive Disorder
- Any other lifetime DSM 5 diagnosis except for simple/specific phobias
- Significant neurological condition (e.g., stroke, seizure disorder, MS)
- Unstable medical illness, (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or hypertension)
- Participants taking anticonvulsants, and other psychotropic medication (see exception below) that cannot be safely tapered and discontinued. The following psychotropic medications are allowed if they have been taken at a stable dose for at least 4 weeks: zopiclone up to 15 mg/day; trazadone up to 150 mg/day; benzodiazepine at a dose of up to 3 mg/day lorazepam-equivalents; gabapentin and pregabalin (if prescribed for pain).
- A pace-maker or other metal implants
- Neuropsychological testing within the past 12 months
Age in the registry: 60 years to - · Sex: All · Accepts healthy volunteers
Sites (5)
Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.
| Site | City | Country | Site status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baycrest Centre for Geriatric Care Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Toronto | Canada | Unknown status |
| Centre for Addiction and Mental Health Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Toronto | Canada | Unknown status |
| University Health Network Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Toronto | Canada | Unknown status |
| St. Michael's Hospital Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Toronto | Canada | Unknown status |
| Sunnybrook Heath Sciences Centre Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status | Toronto | Canada | Unknown status |
Related publications
- The effect of theta-gamma coupling on response to cognitive remediation combined with transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults at high risk for dementia: a PACt-MD secondary analysis.Neuropsychopharmacology · 2026 · PMID 42595848
- Angiogenesis markers and cognitive response in a randomized trial of cognitive remediation plus transcranial direct current stimulation in older adults at risk of dementia.J Alzheimers Dis · 2026 · PMID 42300721
- Brain Structures and Cognitive Decline: Moderation Analysis of the PACt-MD Randomized Clinical Trial of Brain Stimulation Plus Cognitive Remediation in Older Adults With Remitted Depression or Mild Cognitive Impairment.Am J Geriatr Psychiatry · 2026 · PMID 42203570
This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.