tDCS for Huntington's Disease
What You Need to Know Before You Apply
What is the purpose of this trial?
The purpose of this study is to assess feasibility, acceptability, and safety of providing transcranial direct current stimulation( tDCS) to Huntingtons Disease (HD) patients in the early to middle stages and to assess the efficacy of tDCS for HD-related behavioral, cognitive and other symptoms
Will I have to stop taking my current medications?
The trial requires that participants have stable doses of their medications for at least one month, so you will not need to stop taking your current medications if they are stable.
Is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) safe for humans?
Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is generally considered safe, with no reports of serious or lasting harm in over 33,200 sessions involving more than 1,000 people, including vulnerable groups. Common mild side effects include itching, tingling, and headaches, which are usually temporary.12345
How does tDCS treatment for Huntington's Disease differ from other treatments?
tDCS (Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation) is unique because it is a non-invasive treatment that uses electrical currents applied to the scalp to modulate brain activity, which is different from traditional drug therapies. It offers a novel approach by potentially allowing more specific neural modulation, especially with high-definition tDCS, which can increase the precision and intensity of the treatment.678910
What data supports the effectiveness of the treatment tDCS for Huntington's Disease?
Research on a similar treatment, cerebellar transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (ctDCS), showed improvement in motor scores for Huntington's Disease patients, with effects lasting up to 4 weeks. This suggests that non-invasive brain stimulation techniques like tDCS may have potential benefits for Huntington's Disease.1112131415
Who Is on the Research Team?
Erin Stimming, MD
Principal Investigator
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?
This trial is for individuals with Huntington's Disease in early to middle stages who show mild to moderate behavioral symptoms like apathy, irritability, or depression. They must have stable medication doses for a month and no major cognitive disorders, unstable medical conditions, brain metal objects, or high suicide risk.Inclusion Criteria
Exclusion Criteria
Timeline for a Trial Participant
Screening
Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial
Treatment
Participants receive home-based transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) for Huntington's Disease-related symptoms
Follow-up
Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment
What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?
Interventions
- active tDCS
active tDCS is already approved in Canada for the following indications:
Find a Clinic Near You
Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?
The University of Texas Health Science Center, Houston
Lead Sponsor