Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for MCI
- Conditions
- Mild Cognitive ImpairmentDepression
- Interventions
- Device: Accelerated iTBSDevice: Sham Comparator
- Registration Number
- NCT05992831
- Lead Sponsor
- Medical University of South Carolina
- Brief Summary
The goal of this phase II study is to establish the dose-response curves of a safe and clinically feasible non-invasive brain stimulation technique (accelerated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)) to improve both depression and cognitive function in Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) patients with comorbid depression. It is known that TMS can effectively treat depression. Identifying the right dose of accelerated TMS in MCI patients is necessary prior to designing subsequent trials to determine efficacy. These results will inform future clinical trials of accelerated TMS for MCI, with the long-term goal of developing an efficacious treatment to prevent dementia.
- Detailed Description
Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) is a heterogenous syndrome of cognitive and neuropsychiatric symptoms, with as much as 40% of patients being diagnosed with comorbid depression. The goal of this phase II trial is to establish the functional form of the dose-response curves for accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) to ameliorate depression and cognitive function in MCI. Identifying the right dose is necessary prior to designing subsequent trials to ascertain the efficacy of accelerated iTBS for MCI. In our two phase I trials, we chose treatment parameters based on robust prior literature on accelerated, high-dose rTMS delivery (i.e. accelerated iTBS, 600 pulses at 50 Hz per session), intensity (at 120% resting motor threshold \[rMT\]), stimulation site left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (l-dlPFC), and site targeting (Beam F3). The course of treatment was guided by our clinical experience with mild cognitive impairment and vascular cognitive impairment patients as to what we hypothesized they would comfortably tolerate, which was confirmed by the acceptability ratings. In this phase II trial, we focus on manipulating one dosing parameter - total number of active pulses - to rigorously model the dose-response curves such that future phase II/III trials can be more efficient, decrease treatment burden, and accelerate response time.
Aim 1: Establish the dose-response curves for reduced depression following accelerated iTBS in MCI.
Aim 2: Establish the dose-response curves for improved cognition following accelerated iTBS in MCI.
Exploratory Aim 1: Examine alterations in functional connectivity following accelerated iTBS-rTMS in MCI.
Exploratory Aim 2: Examine blood-based biomarkers of neurodegeneration as effect modifiers.
Recruitment & Eligibility
- Status
- RECRUITING
- Sex
- All
- Target Recruitment
- 60
i. Age 60-85 (inclusive). ii. English as a first/primary language. iii. Adequate sensorimotor function and verbal expressive abilities to complete all assessments.
iv. Must have a Co-Participant (e.g. spouse, adult child or relative, sibling, cohabitator, friend, caregiver) who has at least weekly in-person contact with the participant and is willing to participate in the study as a collateral informant.
v. Is on fixed pharmacotherapy (i.e. a stable dose of medication/s) for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment. Cholinesterase inhibitors, NMDA receptor antagonists, and antidepressants are allowed if on a stable regimen for at least 4 weeks prior to enrollment vi. A documented diagnosis of MCI per NIA-AA criteria or Mild Neurocognitive Disorder per DSM-5 criteria by a healthcare provider within the past 2 years, with a presumed etiology of either (or both): vi.a Possible or probable AD vi.b Chronic cerebrovascular disease (CVD), specifically small vessel disease as defined in STRIVE-2 which includes small subcortical infarcts, lacunes, white matter hyperintensities, perivascular spaces, cerebral micro bleeds, cortical superficial siderosis, or cortical cerebral microinfarcts. .
vii. Met actuarial neuropsychological criteria for MCI within the past 2 years (i.e. ≥2 impaired scores within one cognitive domain, or ≥1 impaired scores in ≥3 domains, where an impaired score is defined as ≤16th percentile using appropriate demographically-corrected norms).
viii. Major Depressive Disorder of at least mild severity per DSM-5 and a HAM-D Total ≥ 8.
i. A TICS score of ≤ 19 suggestive of dementia. ii. Prior diagnosis of Dementia (NIA-AA) or Major Neurocognitive Disorder (DSM-5).
iii. Daily/weekly anticholinergic or sedative use. Stimulants may be allowed pending investigator review.
iv. History of significant or unstable condition/s or treatments for these condition/s that may impact cognition (as determined by the study investigators) such as significant cardiac (e.g. heart failure), infectious (e.g. HIV, urinary tract infection), or metabolic disease (e.g. labile diabetes), cancer (e.g. brain cancer, chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairment), developmental disorder (e.g. autism spectrum disorder, intellectual disability), or other neurologic disease (e.g. movement disorder, multiple sclerosis, moderate to severe brain injury, seizures).
v. Past or current treatment for AD/MCI with monoclonal antibody therapy or plan to initiate treatment within three months of enrollment.
vi. Current use of any implanted brain stimulation device. vii. Enrolled in a clinical trial or has received an investigational medication or device in the last 30 days.
viii. MRI contraindications (e.g., ferromagnetic implants, claustrophobia) ix. TMS contraindications (e.g., ferromagnetic implants, conditions or treatments that lower seizure threshold, taking medications that have short half-lives, no identifiable motor threshold).
x. Current alcohol or substance use disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia spectrum or other psychotic disorder, suicidal/homicidal intent within the past month, or any suicide attempts within the past year.
Study & Design
- Study Type
- INTERVENTIONAL
- Study Design
- PARALLEL
- Arm && Interventions
Group Intervention Description Dose Step 4 - 36 Active Accelerated iTBS Sessions Sham Comparator Participant will receive 6/10 active sessions and 4/10 sham sessions per day for a total of 36 active sessions (21,600 active pulses). Dose Step 5 - 48 Active Accelerated iTBS Sessions Sham Comparator Participant will receive 8/10 active sessions and 2/10 sham sessions per day for a total of 48 active sessions (28,800 active pulses). Dose Step 1 - 0 Active Accelerated iTBS Sessions Sham Comparator Participant will receive 10 sessions of accelerated iTBS on each of 6 treatment days, including 0/10 active sessions and 10/10 sham sessions per day for a total of 0 active sessions Dose Step 2 - 12 Active Accelerated iTBS Sessions Accelerated iTBS Participant will receive 10 sessions of accelerated iTBS on each of 6 treatment days, including 2/10 active sessions and 8/10 sham sessions per day for a total of 12 active sessions (7,200 active pulses). Dose Step 3 - 24 Active Accelerated iTBS Sessions Accelerated iTBS Participant will receive 4/10 active sessions and 6/10 sham sessions per day for a total of 24 active sessions (14,400 active pulses). Dose Step 3 - 24 Active Accelerated iTBS Sessions Sham Comparator Participant will receive 4/10 active sessions and 6/10 sham sessions per day for a total of 24 active sessions (14,400 active pulses). Dose Step 2 - 12 Active Accelerated iTBS Sessions Sham Comparator Participant will receive 10 sessions of accelerated iTBS on each of 6 treatment days, including 2/10 active sessions and 8/10 sham sessions per day for a total of 12 active sessions (7,200 active pulses). Dose Step 4 - 36 Active Accelerated iTBS Sessions Accelerated iTBS Participant will receive 6/10 active sessions and 4/10 sham sessions per day for a total of 36 active sessions (21,600 active pulses). Dose Step 5 - 48 Active Accelerated iTBS Sessions Accelerated iTBS Participant will receive 8/10 active sessions and 2/10 sham sessions per day for a total of 48 active sessions (28,800 active pulses). Dose Step 6 - 60 Active Accelerated iTBS Sessions Accelerated iTBS Participant will receive 10/10 active sessions and 0/10 sham sessions per day for a total of 60 active sessions (36,000 active pulses).
- Primary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) raw score Week 0 (1 week pre-treatment), Week 3 (1 week post-treatment), Week 10 (8 weeks post-treatment), and Week 26 (6 months post-treatment) The GDS is a \~3 minute self-report questionnaire of depression symptoms to which respondents answer yes/no (range=0-30, where higher scores indicate greater depression severity). Co-Participants will complete an informant-reported short form.
Change in NIH Toolbox-Cognition Battery (NIHTB-CB) Fluid Composite Week 0 (1 week pre-treatment), Week 3 (1 week post-treatment), Week 10 (8 weeks post-treatment), and Week 26 (6 months post-treatment) The NIHTB-CB is a performance-based, iPad-administered \~30-minute suite of 7 tests that ascertain abilities in different cognitive domains (i.e. executive function, episodic memory, working memory, processing speed, language). It was developed using advanced psychometric techniques to minimize measurement error and produces normed subtest and composite scores. We will use the fully-corrected T-score (range T=0-100; Mean T=50, SD=10; higher scores indicating better cognition) of the Fluid Cognition Composite (normed for age, sex, years of education, and race/ethnicity) to more accurately reflect global, dynamic thinking abilities that reflect the presence of disease or the impact of interventions, and not premorbid influences on test scores.
- Secondary Outcome Measures
Name Time Method Change in PROMIS Depression T-score Week 0 (1 week pre-treatment), Week 3 (1 week post-treatment), Week 10 (8 weeks post-treatment), and Week 26 (6 months post-treatment) The PROMIS Depression scale is a self-report questionnaire of affective and cognitive symptoms to which respondents rate the frequency with which they experience the symptom on a 5-point scale (from 1-"Never" to 5-"Always") in the past 7 days. It is a computer adaptive test given as a REDCap survey, takes 1-2 minutes to complete, and yields a normed T-score (range T=0-100; Mean T=50, SD=10; higher scores indicate greater depression severity).
Change in Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scale Sum of Boxes Week 0 (1 week pre-treatment) Week 10 (8 weeks post-treatment), and Week 26 (6 months post-treatment) This clinician-administered structured interview is given to both participants and their co-participant informants to assesses the participant's abilities in six domains (i.e. Memory, Orientation, Judgment \& Problem Solving, Community Affairs, Home \& Hobbies, and Personal Care), rating each domain on a 5-point scale, with the sum of these 6 "box scores" indicating greater symptom severity (raw score range=0-18)
Change in Alzheimer's Disease Cooperative Study scale for Activities of Daily Living in MCI (ADCS-ADL-MCI) Week 0 (1 week pre-treatment) Week 10 (8 weeks post-treatment), and Week 26 (6 months post-treatment) This 18-item clinician-administered structured interview is given to co-participant informants and assesses the participant's ability to accomplish activities of daily living (independently, with supervision, or with help) within the past 4 weeks, with high scores indicating greater ability (raw score range=0-57).
Trial Locations
- Locations (1)
Medical University of South Carolina
🇺🇸Charleston, South Carolina, United States