Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)Breast Cancer SurvivorCognitive Impairment
Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulationSham transcranial direct current stimulation
Anodal transcranial direct current stimulation: tDCS is described as a non-invasive form of brain stimulation that uses a low-intensity, direct current applied directly to the head through scalp electrodes.
Sham transcranial direct current stimulation: Sham tDCS was delivered using the same protocol and current intensity, but the period of active stimulation was only during the ramp-up and ramp-down periods of 30 and 30 seconds.
Study summary
This study aims to evaluate the efficacy of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) in improving cancer-related cognitive impairment (CRCI) in breast cancer survivors. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive active or sham stimulation over the prefrontal cortex. Cognitive outcomes will be assessed using standardized neuropsychological tests and self-reported measures. Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and electroencephalography (EEG) will be used to explore neural correlates of intervention effects.
Eligibility
Sex
FEMALE
Min age
18 Years
Max age
65 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion Criteria:
1. Female breast cancer survivors aged 18-65 years.
2. Initially diagnosed with stage I-III non-metastatic breast cancer.
3. Between 6 months and 5 years after completion of initial curative surgery +/- radiation/chemotherapy.
4. allowed to be on endocrine therapy and/or anti-HER2 targeted therapy.
5. Self-reported cognitive complaints following cancer treatment.
6. Right-handedness (for standardized tDCS targeting)
7. Education level ≥ 6 years
8. Able and willing to undergo all study procedures (neuropsychological testing, MRI, EEG, etc.) and to provide written informed consent
Exclusion Criteria:
1. Contraindications to MRI or EEG (e.g., pacemaker, metallic implants, claustrophobia).
2. Active neurological/psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, Parkinson's disease, post-stroke sequelae)
3. Concurrent use of cognition-enhancing medications (e.g., donepezil, memantine)
4. Severe somatic diseases (cardiac/hepatic/renal insufficiency)
5. Pregnant or breastfeeding
6. Concurrent participation in another interventional clinical trial
Primary outcome measure(s)
Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function (FACT-Cog) — baseline (pre-intervention), immediately post-intervention, 1-month post-intervention, and 3-months post-intervention FACT-Cog is a validated self-report instrument designed to assess perceived cognitive function in cancer patients and survivors. It evaluates the individual's subjective experience of cognitive abilities during and after cancer treatment. Higher total scores reflect better perceived cognitive functioning. Only the overall score will be used as the outcome measure in this study.
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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