Personalized brain stimulation with cognitive training for primary progressive aphasia
Tests tailored brain stimulation plus computer-based training in people with primary progressive aphasia.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Personalized Closed-Loop Brain Stimulation for Patients With Primary Progressive Aphasia
Key facts
- Where
- Baltimore, United StatesSee the site
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 45 and 85 years old?
Source: NCT07511179, who can take part
Where in United States
- Johns Hopkins HospitalBaltimore, United StatesNo longer taking part
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
- Johns Hopkins University
- Trial code
- NCT07511179
- Record updated
- 27 October 2026
- Original description
This research study investigates the feasibility and efficacy of a personalized, closed-loop electroencephalogram-transcranial electrical stimulation (EEG-tES) intervention for individuals with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), addressing the inconsistent results of generic brain stimulation protocols. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI)-derived insights with real-time data, the study aims to customize transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) parameters, including electrode placement, intensity, and frequency to target the specific brain regions responsible for abnormal signaling in each participant. Over the intervention period paired with computerized cognitive training, the project will evaluate improvements in learning, memory, and functional connectivity, while simultaneously identifying clinical and physiological predictors to determine the viability of transitioning this low-cost, non-invasive technology into a remotely supervised, home-based therapy setting. The study duration will be a total of 6-8 weeks.Read full original descriptionShow less
Personalized Closed-Loop Brain Stimulation for Patients With Primary Progressive Aphasia
This research study investigates the feasibility and efficacy of a personalized, closed-loop electroencephalogram-transcranial electrical stimulation (EEG-tES) intervention for individuals with Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA), addressing the inconsistent results of generic brain stimulation protocols. By integrating artificial intelligence (AI)-derived insights with real-time data, the study aims to customize transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) parameters, including electrode placement, intensity, and frequency to target the specific brain regions responsible for abnormal signaling in each participant. Over the intervention period paired with computerized cognitive training, the project will evaluate improvements in learning, memory, and functional connectivity, while simultaneously identifying clinical and physiological predictors to determine the viability of transitioning this low-cost, non-invasive technology into a remotely supervised, home-based therapy setting. The study duration will be a total of 6-8 weeks.
Inclusion: Must be between 45-85 years of age; Must be right-handed; Must be proficient in English; Must have a minimum of high-school education; Must be diagnosed as lvPPA with AD biomarkers. Other possible diagnosis for the 'aphasic AD' variant would be MCI or 'possible AD' according to 2011 guidelines with AD biomarkers (CSF or positron emission tomography (PET) amyloid-beta or fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG)-positron emission tomography (PET) with uni-hemispheric atrophy); Participants will be diagnosed from PPA and early dementias clinics at Johns Hopkins University or other specialized centers in US using current consensus criteria. Diagnosis will be based on neuropsychological testing, language testing (most commonly the Western Aphasia Battery), MRI and clinical assessment. The investigators will also use two new variant classification tests the investigators have developed at the lab which discriminate PPA variants with great accuracy (above 80%): a spelling test and a speech production test (i.e., Cookie Theft picture description task).
Exclusion: People with previous neurological disease including vascular dementia (e.g., stroke, developmental dyslexia, dysgraphia or attentional deficit); People with advanced dementia or severe language impairments (MMSE <15, or Montreal Cognitive Assessment <10, or language Frontotemporal Dementia-specific Clinical Dementia Rating (FTD-CDR) =3); People with pre-existing psychiatric disorders such as behavioral disturbances, severe depression, or schizophrenia that do not allow these people to comply or follow the study schedule and requirements such as repeated evaluation and therapy; People with hearing loss (> 25 decibel, using audiometric hearing screen); People with uncorrected visual acuity loss; Left-handed individuals.