tDCS Effect on Cognitive Functions From Patients With Alzheimer's Disease or Progressive Primary Aphasia

Evaluation de l'Effet de la tDCS Sur Les Fonctions Cognitives de Patients Souffrant de Maladie d'Alzheimer et Maladies apparentées au Stade léger

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effect of 10 sessions of anodal transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS - 1 mA) applied to left Cortex DorsoLateral PreFrontal (CDLPF) of Alzheimer's or Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) patients compared to the application of a placebo tDCS (sham procedure) on cognitive functions, which are evaluated at short term (1 week post-treatment) and mild term (3 weeks post-treatment).

After unblinding, patients who received placebo treatment could be received active tDCS.

Inclusion Criteria:

• National Institute of Neurological and Communicative Disorders and Stroke and the Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association (NINCDS-ADRADA) criteria (Alzheimer's patient) OR Gordo-Tempini criteria (PPA's patient)
• CDR score ≤ 2
• treatment by IAChE ≥ 3 months
• MADRS score < 18
• w/o severe progressive somatic pathology (especially tumor diseases)

Exclusion Criteria:

• last neuropsychological assessment < 6 months
• presence of a specific contraindication for tDCS (e.g. personal history of epilepsy, metallic head implant, cardiac pacemaker)