Home-Based Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation for Older Adults
Our lab conducts several studies to determine if different applications of non-invasive brain stimulation, delivered at home, can improve memory and/or depressive symptoms as well as functional impairment among older adults. This innovative technique has not been widely available to older adults in need. Our team has developed a standardized, safe, and effective way for older adults and an identified partner to administer neurostimulation in the home, allowing greater access.
We are currently working on the following projects:
- Brain Stimulation to Improve Memory and Movement (HomeStimAD) Study
- NIH/NIA R01
- The goal of this study is to potentially help memory, executive functioning, and movement symptoms in individuals with mild dementia through non-invasive brain stimulation that is completed in the comfort of your own home with a partner. The home-based brain stimulation in this study is called transcranial electrical stimulation, or tES. tES is a non-invasive, safe technology that sends very small electrical currents to the brain through the scalp. These small currents are targeted at specific brain regions involved in memory, executive functioning, and mobility, and therefore may help these symptoms in older adults. If you are interested or would like to learn more about our HomeStimAD study, please call 617-971-5349, or email us at homestim@hsl.harvard.edu.
Completed Studies:
- The MemStim Study: Home-based tACS for older adults with memory deficits
- Aims
- Determine the mean/range number of visits needed for in-person training.
- Assess compliance and retention with study protocol.
- Evaluate safety/side effects of hime-based tACS, as compared to previously established laboratory-based tACS data.
- Examin the sustainability of beneficial cognitive effects of an initial intervention over the course of a full year.
- Feasibility of home-based transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) for older adults at risk of falling
- Aim
- In this 3-phase study we are testing the feasibility of implementing remotely-supervised, caregiver-led transcranial electrical stimulation (tES) within clinical trials focused on older adults at risk of falling.
