Brain stimulation with HD-tDCS for people with ALS
Tests a painless brain stimulation method in adults with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: HD-tDCS in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Key facts
- Where
- Brasília and Natal, BrazilSee the 2 sites
- Phase
- Phase 2/3
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 18 and 80 years old?
Source: NCT06719947, who can take part
Where in Brazil
- Universidade de Brasília - Campus CeilândiaBrasília, BrazilTaking people
- PneumoCardioVascular Lab - HUOL/UFRNNatal, BrazilTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte
- Trial code
- NCT06719947
- Record updated
- 20 July 2026
- Original description
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a nervous system disease that causes muscle weakness and rapidly progresses to the loss of mobility and functionality. Studies suggest that High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) is a technique for modulating motor cortical hyperexcitability. However, evidence on the use of HD-tDCS as a neuromodulator of the diaphragmatic motor cortex in people with ALS is inconclusive.Read full original descriptionShow less
High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a nervous system disease that causes muscle weakness and rapidly progresses to the loss of mobility and functionality. Studies suggest that High-Definition Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (HD-tDCS) is a technique for modulating motor cortical hyperexcitability. However, evidence on the use of HD-tDCS as a neuromodulator of the diaphragmatic motor cortex in people with ALS is inconclusive.
Inclusion: Both sexes; diagnosis of ALS according to the revised El Escorial criteria; Age between 18 and 80 years; Forced Vital Capacity greater than 50% of predicted; Sniff nasal inspiratory pressure greater than 40 cmH2O; A telephone number to contact the care team and who signed the study consent form.
Exclusion: Subjects with metallic brain implants or other electronic implants; Subjects with a cochlear implant; Subjects with cardiac, respiratory, or musculoskeletal comorbidities; Subjects with epileptic activity or a history of epilepsy, or a family history of epilepsy; Subjects with a history of stroke or tumor; Subjects prone to severe hemodynamic fluctuations, acute infectious processes, and/or inflammatory conditions; Subjects who are unable to understand or perform any of the study procedures; Subjects who do not agree to participate or voluntarily request withdrawal from the study at any time; Subjects using invasive mechanical ventilation; Subjects with a tracheostomy; Subjects with a pacemaker; Pregnant women at the time of recruitment; Subjects who are unable to complete the intervention protocol.