Effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Enhancing Cognitive Function in Individuals With Persistent Post-Concussion Syndrome: A Pilot fMRI/1H-MRS Study

Status: Recruiting
Location: See location...
Intervention Type: Device
Study Type: Interventional
Study Phase: Not Applicable
SUMMARY

Globally, 10 million new traumatic brain injury (TBI) cases are estimated annually, with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounting for 75-90% of all TBI cases. It is estimated that 40-80% of individuals with mTBI may experience the post-concussion syndrome (PCS), which is characterized by a range of physical, cognitive, and emotional symptoms. Although the underlying basis of cognitive dysfunction of patients with persistent PCS remains to be clarified, converging evidence shows that the clinical symptoms is underpinned by abnormal neural information processing as a result of axonal injury due to mTBI. Recent studies have demonstrated abnormalities in both structural and functional cortical connectivity, and a loss of cortical excitability-inhibitory (E/I) balance after TBI. Yet, there is no consensus for treating chronic symptoms of concussion, and PCS remains a chronic and highly disabling condition. One potential treatment option is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), a non-invasive brain stimulation technique that has been shown to modify behavior by enhancing connectivity between targeted brain areas. However, research on the therapeutic effect of tDCS on PCS symptoms is limited, and the neurologic mechanisms underlying its effects are not well understood. The proposed study aims to address these knowledge gaps by examining the effects of tDCS on the central nervous system function in patients with PCS, with a specific focus on functional cortical connectivity and cognitive functions such as processing speed and executive function. The study also aims to add value to existing evidence by potentially opening new directions for designing intervention programs for the treatment of PCS after mTBI.

Eligibility
Participation Requirements
Sex: All
Minimum Age: 18
Maximum Age: 65
Healthy Volunteers: f
View:

• being 18 years old or older;

• having a history of a mild TBI (less than 30 minutes loss of consciousness) 1-6 years prior to the study;

• able to communicate in Chinese.

Locations
Other Locations
Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
The Hong Kong Polytechnic University
RECRUITING
Hung Hom
Contact Information
Primary
Yvonne Han, PhD
yvonne.han@polyu.edu.hk
+852 2766 7578
Time Frame
Start Date: 2025-09-01
Estimated Completion Date: 2028-02
Participants
Target number of participants: 40
Treatments
Experimental: Active-tDCS
For active-tDCS condition, participants will receive stimulation on the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex with ramp up and ramp down mode for 10 seconds, eliciting a tingling sensation on the scalp that fades over seconds.
Sham_comparator: Sham-tDCS
For sham-tDCS condition, participants will receive initial stimulation with ramp up and ramp down mode for 30 seconds, eliciting a tingling sensation on the scalp then it will be discontinued.
Related Therapeutic Areas
Sponsors
Leads: The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

This content was sourced from clinicaltrials.gov