An interventional study of Neurofeedback and Placebo in Mild Cognitive Impairment, sponsored by University of California, San Diego. Active, not recruiting at 1 site in United States. Open to participants aged 50 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-07-10.
Sponsored by University of California, San Diego · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) has been identified as an early phase of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a neurodegenerative disorder expected to affect 13.9 million Americans by 2060. AD causes a progressive cognitive decline, including problems related to learning and memory, that adversely affects life quality. Treatment intervention at the MCI stage of the disease could potentially slow down the rate at which people may convert from MCI to AD. Increasing evidence suggests that abnormal activity in frontal regions of the brain is associated with cognitive deficits observed in AD. Furthermore, previous research has shown that neurofeedback (NFB) training targeting these regions can improve memory, making it a potential treatment for AD. NFB is a technique where an individual learns to change his/her brain function in a particular direction, once that function has been made accessible through a visual or auditory metaphor. We are proposing a novel, computer-based brain-training program to enhance frontal gamma oscillatory activity in individuals with MCI. Results from this study will build the scientific foundation necessary for larger clinical trials dedicated to improving treatment options and outcomes for patients with MCI.
This is a randomized, double-blind, clinical trial to test the efficacy of gamma-neurofeedback (G-NFB) compared to a placebo (P-NFB) in individuals with MCI. 112 consented participants will be randomized to receive G-NFB (n=56) or placebo-NFB (n=56) during 30-45 minute sessions twice per week for 12 weeks (24 total sessions). Memory and other cognitive domains will be measured using paper and pencil and computerized tests every 4 weeks during the study and at 4 weeks post completion of study.
3,843 studies on the registry are indexed under Cognitive Dysfunction; 1,099 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 112 is above the median of 65 across 2,807 interventional studies indexed under Cognitive Dysfunction.
Browse Cognitive Dysfunction studies →University of California, San Diego is the lead sponsor of 958 studies on the registry; 191 are open to participants now.
Of its 110 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 70 (64%) have results posted.
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Exclusion Criteria:
Subjects will be given a choice of videos consisting of still images set to music. Whether the video progresses and music continues to play will depend on the subject's ability to maintain frontal gamma oscillatory activity within a prespecified range. Over successive weeks, the parameters for positive feedback (music and video progression) will become incrementally more difficult.
Behavioral: Neurofeedback
Video and music progression will be random and will not depend on brain activity. Any progression will be by random chance alone.
Other: Placebo
Neurofeedback is a technique where brain functions are made accessible to the subject in the form of a metaphor. For instance, frontal brain activity may be shown as an airplane flying. Once the activity is made accessible, the subject can modulate it in a pre-specified direction. The parameters used to achieve successful feedback are made difficult over time and hence the brain is taught or conditioned to improve performance.
Subjects in this arm will undergo all of the same testing as active treatment. Music and video progression will not depend on brain activity. Instead feedback will be random.
Change in Working Memory accuracy
Change in the computerized test, N-back will be used to measure working memory.
Time frame: From baseline to 12 weeks of treatment
Durability of Change in Working Memory accuracy
Change in the computerized test, N-back will be used to measure working memory.
Time frame: From baseline to 4weeks post end of study
Change in Gamma Band Response
Change in Gamma oscillations will be measured while the subject performs the n-back task.
Time frame: From baseline to 12 weeks of treatment
Durability of Gamma Band Response
Change in Gamma oscillations will be measured while the subject performs the n-back task.
Time frame: From baseline to 4weeks post end of study
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Plan to share: No
This study is active, not recruiting, as verified in May 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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University of California, San Diego