Trial results for a study investigating improving aphasia using electrical brain stimulation in stroke patients were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2026-01-30. The study reported a mean of 56% on a language specific attention treatment probe for the active transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) group.
Background
Aphasia, a language processing disorder, often occurs after a stroke or brain injury, significantly impacting communication and daily life. While speech and language therapy is a standard treatment, it can require extensive time for patients to regain their language abilities. This research aimed to explore non-invasive brain stimulation, specifically transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), as a method to enhance the effectiveness of speech and language therapy, potentially leading to more efficient recovery.
Trial design
This completed study, designated as Phase NA, enrolled 23 participants to investigate conditions including Stroke and Aphasia. The trial compared two intervention arms: Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Paired With Speech-language Therapy and Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Paired With Speech-language Therapy. The study explored the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance the effects of speech and language therapy.
Key results
The trial reported several key measurements related to language and attention:
- Language Specific Attention Treatment Probe:
- Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Paired With Speech-language Therapy:
- Mean of 56% (Standard Deviation 19%)
- Mean of 64% (Standard Deviation 24%)
- Mean of 61% (Standard Deviation 25%)
- Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Paired With Speech-language Therapy:
- Mean of 47% (Standard Deviation 29%)
- Mean of 52% (Standard Deviation 29%)
- Mean of 51% (Standard Deviation 27%)
- Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Paired With Speech-language Therapy:
- Continuous Performance Test:
- Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Paired With Speech-language Therapy:
- Mean of 493 ms (Standard Deviation 89 ms)
- Mean of 456 ms (Standard Deviation 86 ms)
- Mean of 444 ms (Standard Deviation 66 ms)
- Sham Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Paired With Speech-language Therapy:
- Mean of 485 ms (Standard Deviation 118 ms)
- Mean of 507 ms (Standard Deviation 133 ms)
- Mean of 529 ms (Standard Deviation 158 ms)
- Active Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Paired With Speech-language Therapy:
What this means
The posted results provide preliminary data on the effects of combining transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) with speech-language therapy for individuals with post-stroke aphasia. For the Language Specific Attention Treatment Probe, the active tDCS group consistently showed higher mean percentages compared to the sham group, suggesting a potential benefit in language-specific attention. Results for the Continuous Performance Test showed varied mean values between the active and sham groups, without a clear consistent pattern. Given the small enrollment of 23 participants, these findings are exploratory and indicate areas for further investigation into non-invasive brain stimulation as an adjunct to traditional therapy for aphasia.
Source
The information regarding these trial results was obtained from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT04963803, titled "Improving Aphasia Using Electrical Brain Stimulation", were posted on 2026-01-30 on clinicaltrials.gov.