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NCT04866771

Remotely Supervised tDCS for Slowing ALS Disease Progression

Completed NA Results posted Last updated 7 August 2025
What this trial tests

NA trial testing Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) in 14 participants. Completed in 1 January 2025.

Timeline
27 August 2021
Primary endpoint
1 July 2024
1 January 2025

Quick facts

Lead sponsorUniversity of Illinois at Chicago
PhaseNA
StatusCompleted
Study typeINTERVENTIONAL
Allocationrandomized
Designparallel
Maskingdouble
Primary purposetreatment
Enrollment14
Start date27 August 2021
Primary completion1 July 2024
Estimated completion1 January 2025
Sites1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

Conditions studied

Sponsor

University of Illinois at Chicago

Who can join

Adults 18 to 80, any sex, with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Results — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Per-arm endpoint measurements with 95% confidence intervals where reported. Source: trial results section.

Change in Revised ALS Functioning Rating Scale (ALSFRS-R) Primary · Change from baseline to immediately after training and baseline to 3 months follow up.

This questionnaire evaluates function over time and disease progression in ALS patients with questions related to daily activities such as speech, swallowing, walking, etc. Scores range between 0-48 with higher scores corresponding to more function being retained.

Pre to Post
GroupValue95% CI
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)-1± 1.06
Delayed-Start Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Control Group-7.1± 1.56
Pre to 3 month follow up
GroupValue95% CI
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)-3.2± 2
Delayed-Start Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Control Group-7.1± 1.56
Gait Speed Secondary · Change from baseline to immediately after training

Self-selected will be measured as the average walking speed from 2 trials of the 10-m walk test (10MWT).

GroupValue95% CI
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)-0.11± 0.1
Delayed-Start Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Control Group-0.30± 0.08

Adverse events — posted to ClinicalTrials.gov

Time frame: 24 weeks during intervention and 3-month follow-up period (total of ~36 weeks). Reporting threshold: 0%. Adverse-event reports describe events observed during the trial — not all are caused by the drug.

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)
Serious: 0/7 (0%)
Deaths: 0/7
Delayed-Start Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) Control Group
Serious: 0/7 (0%)
Deaths: 0/7
Other adverse events (2 terms — click to expand)

ReactionSystemTranscranial Direct Curren…Delayed-Start Transcranial…
TinglingSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders
ItchingSkin and subcutaneous tissue disorders

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04866771 adverse events section.

Sponsor's own description

Most ALS care is centered on patient support and symptom management, making rehabilitation an integral aspect for slowing disease progression, prolonging life span, and increasing quality of life. Brain stimulation has been increasingly explored as a promising neuromodulatory tool to prime motor function in several neurological disorders. We propose a novel mechanism using remotely supervised brain stimulation to preserve motor function in individuals with ALS. This project will also aim to explore the effectiveness of brain stimulation on upper and lower motor neuron mechanisms in individuals with ALS.

Publications & conference data

1 peer-reviewed publication reference this trial (live from Europe PMC):

  1. Home-Based Tele-tDCS in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Feasibility, Safety, and Preliminary Efficacy.
    Madhavan S, Deshmukh S, Cummings M, Doshi A, et al · · 2025 · cited 2× · PMID 40125702 · DOI 10.1002/acn3.70038

Verify or expand the search:

Other trials of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

Trials testing the same drug.

Other recruiting trials for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)

Currently open trials in the same condition.

Other University of Illinois at Chicago trials

Trials by the same sponsor.

Verify against primary sources

Data sources for this page

Drug Landscape aggregates and links these public records for informational use only. Always verify against the primary source before clinical or regulatory decisions. Canonical URL: https://druglandscape.com/trial/NCT04866771.

Primary sources · FDA · ClinicalTrials.gov · EMA · SEC EDGAR · ChEMBL · Wikidata · full sourcing