NCT05079464 · RECRUITING
Exercise as a Primer for Brain Stimulation in Vascular Cognitive Impairment No Dementia (VCIND)
This study compares exercise and a mild form of brain stimulation (tDCS, which sends a weak electrical current through the scalp) to see which helps memory performance. Participants have finished cardiac rehab and are at risk of cognitive decline. The idea is that exercise may prime the brain for stimulation. It is not a phase-labeled trial, so it is an early research study, not proven.
You may qualify if
- ≥50 years of age; females must be post-menopausal
- Presence of cerebrovascular and/or cardiovascular risk factors or coronary artery disease
- Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) \<27
- Sufficiently proficient in English
- Must be able to exercise at a moderate intensity level
- Presence of modest deficits (1 standard deviation below population norm) in one of the following domains: executive function, verbal memory, working memory, or visuospatial memory
You're excluded if
- History of stroke
- Change in psychotropics within the last 4 weeks
- Current benzodiazepine use due
- Metal implants that would preclude safe use of tDCS or neuroimaging
- Significant neurological or psychiatric conditions (current major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia)
- MoCA \<18 and/or clinical diagnosis of dementia
- Any medical contraindications to exercise
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 2026-04-13