NCT06848140 Using Non-invasive Brain Stimulation to Treat Word Finding Difficulty in Chronic Traumatic Brain Injury
| NCT ID | NCT06848140 |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Phase | — |
| Sponsor | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center |
| Condition | Traumatic Brain Injury |
| Study Type | INTERVENTIONAL |
| Enrollment | 24 participants |
| Start Date | 2025-10-01 |
| Primary Completion | 2028-04-30 |
Eligibility & Interventions
Eligibility Fast-Check
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What to Expect as a Participant
You will actively receive the study intervention — which may be a drug, biologic, device, or procedure.
This trial targets 24 participants in total. It began in 2025-10-01 with a primary completion date of 2028-04-30.
⚠ This information is for research awareness only. Always consult your physician before joining any clinical trial. Participation is voluntary and you may withdraw at any time.
Brief Summary
The purpose of this study is to learn more about how brain stimulation affects word finding problems in people who have a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The type of brain stimulation used is called transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS). tDCS delivers low levels of electric current to the brain and high definition tDCS (HD-tDCS) delivers the current with multiple electrodes on the scalp. This current is delivered with HD-tDCS to parts of the brain that may help with remembering things. The investigators hope that this can help to improve word finding and memory problems in people with TBI.
Eligibility Criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Age between 18 and 85 * Fluent in speaking and reading English * Able to provide informed consent * Has a TBI at least one year prior to enrollment and not related to military experience * Has a confirmation of verbal retrieval difficulties as measured by the Verbal Retrieval Difficulty Interview questions Exclusion Criteria: * Lifetime major or active neurologic conditions (e.g., stroke, epilepsy, brain tumor, dementia, seizure occurrence less than one year ago) * Lifetime major or active cardiovascular conditions (e.g., cardiac arrythmia, heart failure, heart attack) * Current substance use disorder * Lifetime major psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia, bipolar disorder) * Severe depression at the time of enrollment (BDI-II \>= 29) or psychiatric ER visits or hospitalization less than 6 months ago prior to enrollment * Current sensory (e.g., blind, deaf) or physical (e.g., severe motor weakness) impairment that interferes with testing * Contraindications for tDCS or MRI * The person cannot be left alone for 8+ hours. * Not verbally communicative. * Currently undergoing and not wishing to discontinue speech and cognitive therapy during study participation. * Incapable of understanding the consent or unable to consent for oneself. * Unable to travel to BIDMC's Berenson-Allen Center * Pregnancy
Contact & Investigator
Hsueh-Sheng Chiang, MD, PhD
PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Frequently Asked Questions
Who can join the NCT06848140 clinical trial?
This trial is open to participants of all sexes, aged 18 Years or older, up to 85 Years, studying Traumatic Brain Injury. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria are listed in the Eligibility Criteria section. Always confirm your eligibility with the research team before applying.
Is NCT06848140 currently recruiting?
Yes, NCT06848140 is actively recruiting participants. Contact the research team at ihall1@bidmc.harvard.edu for enrollment information.
Where is the NCT06848140 trial being conducted?
This trial is being conducted at Boston, United States.
Who is sponsoring the NCT06848140 clinical trial?
NCT06848140 is sponsored by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The principal investigator is Hsueh-Sheng Chiang, MD, PhD at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center. The trial plans to enroll 24 participants.