Remotely-supervised Neuromodulation in PPA
Investigating the Benefits of Remotely-Supervised Neuromodulation In Primary Progressive Aphasia
University of Texas at Austin
80 participants
Jan 1, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether remotely-supervised transcranial direct-current stimulation (RS-tDCS) can improve speech and language treatments for individuals with logopenic variant primary progressive aphasia (lvPPA). tDCS is a form of brain stimulation where a low-level electrical current is delivered to the brain through electrodes placed on the head. The main questions the trial aims to answer are: * Is it feasible to do RS-tDCS with virtual speech therapy? * How can brain magnetic resonance imaging scans (MRIs) predict how well someone will benefit from RS-tDCS with virtual speech therapy? Researchers will compare active RS-tDCS stimulation to sham stimulation (where there is no active stimulation, but participants feel stimulation effects at the beginning and end of the session). Participants will: * Travel to either the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF) or the University of Texas at Austin (UT Austin) one time for in-person testing, an MRI scan, and training on how to use the RS-tDCS equipment * Meet with a speech-language pathologist for pre-treatment testing on Zoom for 2 weeks * Participate in speech-language therapy and independent practice on Zoom 5 days a week for 4 weeks, using either active tDCS stimulation or sham * Complete post-treatment testing on Zoom for 1-2 weeks * Complete follow-up testing 2 months after completion of treatment
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria8
- Meets diagnostic criteria for primary progressive aphasia (PPA)
- Meets diagnostic criteria for logopenic variant PPA
- Score of 20 or higher on the Mini-Mental State Examination
- Adequate hearing and vision (with hearing or vision aids, if needed)
- Has a study partner that can co-enroll in the study and attend pre-treatment training as well as continue to be present for teleconference meetings, as needed
- Able and willing to undergo MRI brain scan
- Access to high speed internet and basic experience using a computer and the internet
- Individuals should be fluent speakers of English
Exclusion Criteria6
- Speech and language deficits better accounted for by another neurological disorder
- Does not meet diagnostic criteria for logopenic variant PPA
- Score of less than 20 on the Mini-Mental State Examination
- Does not have a study partner who can co-enroll in the study
- Contraindications for tDCS or MRI scan (History of seizures, head injury, craniotomy, skull surgery or fracture; History of severe or frequent migraines; Metallic implant in head or any metal in head; Pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator or any other stimulator; Chronic skin problems; Pregnancy)
- History of stroke, epilepsy, or significant brain injury
Interventions
Participants work on producing spoken and written names of personally relevant target items using a self-cueing hierarchy. Treatment focuses on the use of strategies that capitalize on spared cognitive-linguistic abilities to support word retrieval. The participant completes two (one hour each) teletherapy sessions per week with a clinician plus 30 minutes of additional independent, computer-based practice exercises 3 times per week.
tDCS is a type of non-invasive brain stimulation. 1.5 milliamp (mA) of current will be delivered via electrodes in saline-soaked sponges placed on the left and right sides of the head. During sham stimulation 1.5 milliamp (mA) of current will be delivered for a brief period and then turned off. The stimulation will be delivered for 20 minutes, 5 times weekly, in the participant's home setting while the participant engages in computer-delivered speech-language training. Sessions are monitored by study personnel.
Locations(2)
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NCT07260253