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NCT07151677Recruiting

Brain Stimulation Effects on Post-Stroke Fatigue and Aphasia

Pre-Frontal tDCS as a Novel Intervention to Reduce Effects of Post-Stroke Fatigue While Improving Language and Attention in Aphasia

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 30 Sept 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if electrical brain stimulation applied to the front parts of the brain can help people who have had a stroke improve their fatigue, language, and attention. The main question it aims to answer is: * Does transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) administered to the pre-frontal areas of the brain improve post-stroke fatigue and aphasia? * What kinds of participant characteristics are associated with better improvement of post-stroke fatigue and aphasia? Researchers will compare active electrical stimulation to sham stimulation to see if the active stimulation does a better job at reducing fatigue and language deficits after stroke. Participants will be asked to complete fatigue, language, and cognitive testing before and after receiving 10 sessions of tDCS plus speech and language therapy.

Status (registry)
Recruiting
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
60 (estimated)
First submitted
18 Aug 2025
Start date
4 Aug 2025
Primary completion date
Sept 2029
Lead sponsor
Syracuse University
Diseases
Stroke
NCT number
NCT07151677

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional
  • Planned participants: 60
  • From 4 Aug 2025 to the primary completion date, Sept 2029
  • 2 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.

Prior treatment

  • Currently undergoing speech and language therapy targeting auditory comprehension or attention.
  • Metal implants in the scalp or bone in the pre-frontal area of the head.

Other illness

  • Diagnosis or history of neurological disorder other than stroke.
  • Diagnosis or history of psychiatric disorder with the exception of anxiety and/or depression if it is managed through medication and/or behavioral intervention.
  • History of seizures within the past 6 months.
  • Currently has cardiac pacemaker
  • \<6 months post-stroke (however, if this is only exclusionary criterion met, participant can be re-evaluated at the 6-month mark if still interested in the study)
  • Onset of aphasia related to etiology other than ischemic left hemisphere stroke.
  • Does not report experience of post-stroke fatigue (as measured on SF-CAT)

Age

  • Younger than 18 years old.

Other

  • Pregnant.
  • Currently has an unhealed skull fracture.
  • Damaged brain tissue significantly overlaps with left hemisphere dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
  • No aphasia or severe aphasia (as measured by WAB-R \*\*or QAB).
  • Significant challenges with vision and/or hearing (even with use of corrective aids).
  • Unwilling to allow audio-recording of study sessions.

Who the study is looking for

  • 18 years or older.
  • No diagnosis of neurological disorder (other than stroke).
  • No diagnosis of psychiatric disorder, with the exception of anxiety and/or depression if it is managed through medication and/or behavioral intervention.
  • No seizure within the past 6 months.
  • Not pregnant.
  • Does not currently have cardiac pacemaker
  • In chronic phase of recovery, defined as at least 6 months post-stroke.
  • Not undergoing speech and language therapy targeting auditory comprehension or attention for the duration of the study.
  • No metal implants in the scalp or bone in the pre-frontal area of the head.
  • No unhealed skull fractures.
  • Onset of aphasia related to single, left hemisphere, ischemic stroke.
  • Damaged brain tissue from stroke does not overlap with left hemisphere dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.
  • Mild to moderate aphasia (as measured by WAB-R \*\*or QAB).
  • Self-report of post-stroke fatigue (as measured on SF-CAT)
  • No significant challenges with vision or hearing (with use of corrective aids if needed; eyeglasses, hearing aids).
  • Willing to allow audio-recording of study sessions.

Age in the registry: 18 years to - · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (2)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
University of Michigan
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
Ann ArborUnited StatesNot yet recruiting
Syracuse University
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
SyracuseUnited StatesRecruiting

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.