NCT02438202 · NOT YET RECRUITING
Electroconvulsive Therapy for Treatment of Alzheimer´s Disease
This small pilot study tests whether a course of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT), given under anesthesia over 27 weeks, changes thinking and memory in people already diagnosed with Alzheimer's. Researchers will compare cognitive testing at the start and end. It is an early, exploratory study, so it cannot show whether ECT works or is safe for this use.
You may qualify if
- confirmed Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM IV) diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (Mini Mental State Examination >5 and \<26)
- routine treatment of AD due to German national guidelines ("S3-Leitlinie")
- Ability to consent. If in doubt an independent (from the study) psychiatrist has to document ability to consent. If no ability to consent is stated, a legal guardian can consent instead. No ECT will be performed against the patient's will.
You're excluded if
- contraindications for ECT
- current major depressive episode due to DSM IV
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-09-08