Clinical Trial Awareness: 5 Clinical Trials Focused on Advancing Brain Health Research
Every thought, movement, and memory we experience depends on one extraordinary organ—our brain. The World Brain Day serves as a reminder of the importance of brain health and the neurological conditions that impact millions of lives worldwide. This initiative, led by the World Federation of Neurology (WFN), aims to raise awareness and encourage understanding of these conditions.
This year’s theme, “Brain Health and Wellbeing for All Ages,” emphasizes the importance of brain care at every stage of life—from childhood developmental disorders to conditions like stroke, epilepsy, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s, and multiple sclerosis in later years.
At TrialX, we believe that research is one of the most powerful tools we have to improve lives. We help connect people to clinical trials exploring new ways to understand, prevent, and treat brain-related conditions. This blog highlights five ongoing clinical trials that could influence future care and understanding of brain health.
1. The PRIME Study: A First-in-Human Trial of a Groundbreaking Brain-Computer Interface
Sponsor: Neuralink
What It’s Testing and Why It Matters
The PRIME Study is a first-in-human clinical trial of Neuralink’s N1 Implant, a wireless brain-computer interface (BCI) designed to help people with severe paralysis operate digital devices using only their thoughts. For individuals with ALS or spinal cord injuries, this could restore essential forms of communication and control.
Why It Stands Out
Unlike older BCI systems that required external wiring or bulky equipment, the N1 is compact, wireless, and designed to stream brain signals in real time. This trial marks a major leap in assistive technology and is one of the most advanced BCI efforts to ever reach human testing.
What It Could Mean for Patients
If successful, this study could lay the groundwork for a new generation of assistive tools empowering individuals with paralysis the ability to operate digital devices with their thoughts—potentially improving independence, communication, and overall quality of life.
Location: On-site – The trial currently recruits participants in Phoenix, Arizona, and Miami, Florida.
View the study and see if you’re eligible.
2. Deep Brain Stimulation for Parkinson’s, Dystonia, and Essential Tremor
Sponsor: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
What It’s Testing and Why It Matters
This trial is evaluating Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) for individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, and essential tremor. DBS involves implanting a neurostimulator that sends controlled electrical signals to targeted areas in the brain, helping regulate abnormal activity and ease symptoms like tremors, stiffness, and slowness.
Why It Stands Out
This trial supports both new and current DBS patients, with expert care, brain imaging, and long-term follow-up. It also helps researchers learn more about how DBS affects the brain and quality of life over time.
What It Could Mean for Patients
For those with hard-to-treat tremors or movement issues, DBS can significantly improve day-to-day life—helping with walking, writing, or even eating independently again. This study also allows patients to receive care and follow-up at the NIH, with an expert team closely monitoring progress over two years or more.
Location: On-site – United States (National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland)
3. Improving Memory in Multiple Sclerosis Using Brain Stimulation
Sponsor: The University of Texas at Dallas
What It’s Testing and Why It Matters
This study investigates whether high-definition transcranial direct current stimulation (HD-tDCS)—a gentle, non-invasive form of brain stimulation—can improve memory and verbal retrieval in people with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS)
Why It Stands Out
While MS is often associated with physical symptoms, cognitive challenges like forgetfulness or mental fog can be just as frustrating. This trial applies low-intensity electrical stimulation to a brain region linked to memory, aiming to enhance cognitive performance without medications or invasive procedures.
What It Could Mean for Patients
If effective, HD-tDCS could offer a non-drug option to improve memory in MS—helping patients better navigate daily life, work, and relationships. It may bring relief to those who’ve found few solutions for the mental fog and memory lapses that MS can cause.
Location: On-site – United States
Learn more about the study and eligibility criteria.
4. Exploring Neurophysiological Markers of Brain Health: A Pilot Study Using TMS + EEG
Sponsor: University of Texas at Dallas
What It’s Testing and Why It Matters
In this pilot study, researchers are using a unique combination of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Electroencephalography (EEG) to measure real-time brain activity and identify potential biomarkers of brain health.
Why It Stands Out
Unlike brain scans that show structure, this technique reveals how the brain responds to stimulation—offering insights into its functionality and adaptability. Paired with data from another ongoing project (The BrainHealth Project), the study is laying the groundwork for tools that may one day detect subtle cognitive changes before symptoms appear.
What It Could Mean for Brain Health
From aging to cognitive disorders, this pilot could pave the way for new, non-invasive tools that help detect subtle changes in brain health before symptoms appear. It could also offer a faster way to evaluate brain training programs and lifestyle interventions by tracking their impact directly in the brain.
Location: Center for BrainHealth, Dallas, TX
5. A First-of-Its-Kind Brain Health Study Using Virtual Reality and Movement
Sponsor: University of California, San Diego
What It’s Testing and Why It Matters
This NIH-funded trial compares three 16-week interventions:
- Cycling
- VR-based brain games
- A combined VR-based physical and cognitive program
The goal is to improve hippocampal function—critical for memory.
Why It Stands Out
It’s one of the first large studies to test this kind of simultaneous brain-body intervention using VR technology. By combining exercise with spatial navigation tasks in an immersive environment, the study mimics real-life multitasking—something our brains do all the time. This approach could potentially slow cognitive decline in aging populations more effectively than either activity alone.
What It Could Mean for Brain Health
If proven effective, this study could open the door to accessible, at-home tools for improving memory and cognitive resilience. It may especially benefit those at risk for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or age-related memory issues, offering a new way to stay mentally sharp through engaging, gamified therapy.
Location: San Diego, CA
Staying Informed, Staying Engaged
Each of these ongoing studies offers a reminder of the many ways researchers are working to better understand the brain and the conditions that affect it. Brain health is not just about managing illness—it’s about supporting how we live, think, and connect at every stage of life.
To learn more about ongoing clinical trials related to brain health, visit trialx.com. You can also explore resources from the World Federation of Neurology, the American Academy of Neurology, and the American Brain Foundation to stay informed and engaged.
