---
title: Improve thinking with scalp stimulation
nct_id: NCT05808504
phase: NA
status: RECRUITING
sponsor: Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France
study_type: INTERVENTIONAL
canonical_url: "https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT05808504"
clinicaltrials_gov: "https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05808504"
last_fetched: "2026-05-10T14:05:30.045Z"
source: "Parkinson's Pathways (curated)"
---
# Improve thinking with scalp stimulation

**Goal (in five words):** Improve thinking with scalp stimulation

**Official Title:** Investigation of the Benefits of Electrical Non-invasive Stimulation on Cognitive Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease

**Trial ID:** [NCT05808504](https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05808504)

## Key Facts

- **Phase:** NA
- **Status:** RECRUITING
- **Study Type:** INTERVENTIONAL
- **Sponsor:** Institut National de la Santé Et de la Recherche Médicale, France
- **Target Enrollment:** 90 participants
- **Start Date:** 2023-05-03
- **Completion Date:** 2026-01-15
- **Conditions:** Parkinson Disease
- **Interventions:** Neuropsychological assessment, Neurological assessment, Cognitive task, EEG, tACS (real or sham)
- **Intervention Types:** OTHER, PROCEDURE

## Summary For Families

The trial is testing whether non-invasive alternating electrical stimulation can improve cognitive symptoms in Parkinson's, by targeting the brain rhythms that support attention and memory. Participants receive transcranial alternating current stimulation, either real or sham, while researchers record EEG and run cognitive tasks, the weak scalp currents aim to nudge or re-synchronize neural oscillations and are used as an add-on rather than replacing levodopa or other meds. They are recruiting adults 18 to 75 with idiopathic Parkinson's and reasonably preserved cognition (MoCA 22 or higher), no deep brain stimulation, and no major other neurological or psychiatric disorders, with healthy adults included as controls.

## Eligibility

- **Minimum age:** 18 Years
- **Maximum age:** 75 Years
- **Sex:** ALL

### Full Criteria

```
Inclusion Criteria:

For all participants:

* Affiliation to a social security scheme or beneficiary of such a scheme.
* Age over 18 years old.
* Age less than 75 years old
* Correct or correctly corrected view (on simple declaration by the patient).
* Subject having received information on the protocol and having provided informed and written consent to participate.

Criteria exclusive to patients:

\- Idiopathic Parkinson's disease according to United Kingdom Parkinson's criteria Brain Bank disease (Hughes et al., 1992).

Exclusion Criteria:

For all participants:

* Major cognitive impairment (Moca \< 22) or severe neurocognitive disorder according to DSM-V (Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders -V);
* Motor difficulties preventing the achievement of the task.
* Drug or alcohol addiction.
* Adult subject to legal protection (safeguard of justice, curatorship, guardianship), persons deprived of liberty.
* Present or past moderate to severe psychiatric pathology (obsessive compulsive, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.).
* Potential for pregnancy or confirmed pregnancy. A pregnancy test will be performed on inclusion.for women of childbearing age.

Criteria exclusive to patients:

* Present or past neurological pathology other than Parkinson's disease (accident stroke, head trauma, etc.).
* Deep brain stimulation treatment.

Exclusive to healthy participants:

\- Present or past neurological pathology.
```

## Locations (1)

- CHU de Rennes, Rennes, France _(48.1111, -1.6743)_
  - Paul Sauleau, MD — (CONTACT) — +332 99 28 42 58 — paul.sauleau@chu-rennes.fr
  - Paul Sauleau, MD — (PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR)

## Central Contacts

- Paul Sauleau, MD — (CONTACT) — +332 99 28 42 58 — paul.sauleau@chu-rennes.fr
- Julien Modolo, PHD — (CONTACT) — +332 23 23 62 20 — julien.modolo@inserm.fr

---

*Canonical: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT05808504*  
*HTML version: https://parkinsonspathways.com/trial/NCT05808504*  
*Source data: https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05808504*