Double Blind Trial of DC Polarization in FTD

Introduction: In a recent sham-controlled pilot study we showed that surface anodal DC polarization can improve verbal fluency in patients with frontotemporal dementia (FTD). This study is designed to extend those findings in a double blind trial. Objective: To see whether surface anodal DC polarization can improve verbal fluency and a global measure of behavior in FTD patients. Design: We propose to treat 20 FTD patients anodal and sham DC polarization in a double blind, crossover trial. Outcome Measures: The primary outcome measures are verbal fluency and the score on the Neuropsychiatric Index, a commonly used scale for behavioral problems in dementia. Secondary outcomes will include a modified behavioral scale, administered every 12 hours during the study, a standard neurobehavioral rating scale, some experimental tests of dominant frontal lobe function and a control task that we do not expect to be affected.