NNIBS
Research type
Research Study
Full title
A PILOT STUDY OF TRANSCRANIAL DIRECT CURRENT STIMULATION FOR THE TREATMENT OF COGNITIVE IMPAIRMENTS IN NEUROFIBROMATOSIS TYPE 1
IRAS ID
217743
Contact name
Shruti Garg
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
University of Manchester
Duration of Study in the UK
1 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Learning problems including autism and ADHD are common in children with Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1), affecting their daily life and their performance at school. These difficulties are poorly understood and currently there are no available treatments to reduce the impact of these problems. We are investigating whether a technology called ‘Transcranial Direct Current stimulation (tDCS)’ can help improve the learning in children with NF1. TDCS is a well known technology that has been used before in children with other conditions such as epilepsy but has not been used before in children with NF1. We will carry out a randomized controlled trial where 8 children will be given active (real) tDCS and 8 children will be given ‘sham’ (fake) tDCS for twenty minutes a day for three consecutive days. We will use detailed cognitive tests, questionnaires and Electroencephalogram (EEG) to investigate the impact of tDCS on learning. We will also investigate whether this technique acceptable for children and parents.
REC name
North West - Greater Manchester Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
17/NW/0364
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jun 2017
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion