TMS for Cognitive Decline in Aging and Preclinical AD

Early Phase 1

Recruiting

• Conditions: Prodromal Alzheimer's Disease; Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease; Healthy Aging; Cognitive Decline

• Registration Number: NCT06956300
• Lead Sponsor: Massachusetts General Hospital

Brief Summary

In this research study we want to learn more about the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on motivation, memory, and brain-network function in cognitively unimpaired older adults and individuals with preclinical Alzheimer's disease.

This study will use a form of non-invasive brain stimulation called repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS). rTMS will slightly alter activity in an area of your brain that controls cognition. Changes resulting from this stimulation will be measured with behavioral tests, as well as by taking brain images with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

Participants will come in for one baseline visit followed by 10 days of daily rTMS study visits (Monday through Friday) and an evaluation visit. Then, there will be a 2-week break. After this break, they will return for another baseline visit, an additional 10 days of rTMS, and a final evaluation visit.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Status Verified: 2025-04
• Study Start: 2025-04-07
• Study First Submitted: 2025-04-14
• Study First Submitted QC: 2025-05-01
• Last Update Submitted: 2025-05-01
• Study First Posted: 2025-05-04
• Last Update Posted: 2025-05-04
• Primary Completion: 2029-08-31
• Study Completion: 2029-08-31

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 80

Inclusion Criteria

1. Between the ages of 40-99
2. Native English speakers
3. Willing and able to consent to the protocol and undergo imaging and neuropsychological testing at the specified time points
4. Cognitively normal older adults and individuals with preclinical Alzheimer's disease will be included.

Exclusion Criteria

1. History of head trauma involving loss of consciousness or alteration in consciousness
2. Another major neurologic or psychiatric condition
3. Known presence of a structural brain lesion (e.g. tumor, cortical infarct)
4. Any contraindication to MRI, such as presence of pacemakers, aneurysm clips, artificial heart valves, ear implants, metal fragments, or foreign objects in the eyes, skin, or body
5. Longstanding premorbid history (i.e. longer than 10 years) of alcohol or substance abuse with continuous abuse up to and including the time that the symptoms leading to clinical presentation developed
6. Any significant systemic illness or unstable medical condition which could lead to difficulty complying with the study protocol.
7. Unwilling to return for follow-up, undergo neuropsychological testing, TMS, and MR imaging
8. History of unprovoked seizures (i.e., seizures that occur in the absence of a clear provocation such as hyponatremia, hypoglycemia, etc.).
9. Subjects who have a first degree relative (e.g., father, mother or sibling) with a seizure disorder.
10. Subjects currently taking, or plan to take, medications which are highly epileptogenic. These include: clozapine, high doses of bupropion (i.e., greater than 400mg daily), diphenhydramine, cyclosporine, isoniazid, imipenem, chloroquine, tramadol and theophylline.

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: SINGLE_GROUP

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Changes in motivation	Baseline and post-treatment Day 11	This will be measured by ratings of grit on a 5-point scale using the Grit Scale (Duckworth, et al., 2007).
Changes in Brain Network Connectivity	Baseline and post-treatment Day 11	This will include changes in resting-state functional connectivity measured with functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI)
Changes in Memory	Baseline and Post-Treatment Day 11	This will be measured with an associative memory task

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Massachusetts General Hospital; 🇺🇸 Boston, Massachusetts, United States