Targeted Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Hippocampal-dependent Declarative Memory Abilities
Trial statusRecruiting
Trial phaseNot applicable
Trial typeInterventional
Biological sexAll
Age19+
SponsorUniversity of Nebraska
About this trial
This is a pilot study of non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to improve memory in healthy adults. It will also examine treating memory deficits in older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a condition that frequently precedes Alzheimer's disease (AD). The study will test whether a form of non-invasive brain stimulation repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve memory abilities in healthy young adults, healthy older adults, and older adults with aMCI by retuning memory-related brain networks. This study is a key first step which will support the long-term goal of treating memory deficits in neurological patients. It is expected that rTMS will improve memory abilities in all participants, and that the improvements in memory will be attributable to changes in the connectivity of memory-related brain networks.
Eligibility criteria
This trial accepts healthy volunteersQualifiers
16 healthy young adults (age 19-35)
16 healthy older adults (demographically matched to aMCI group for age, sex, and educational attainment)
16 older adults diagnosed with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI)
Adults 19 years of age and older
Disqualifiers
Individuals who have ferrous metal implanted in their body (other than in their teeth) or any other non-removable medical and/or metallic implant
Individuals who have increased intracranial pressure
Individuals who have any major medical illness (e.g., cancer, HIV+, hepatitis, heart disease)
Individuals who have confounding/dual diagnoses (e.g., comorbid mental illness and substance use disorder)
Trial design
Design model
Crossover
Treatments tested in this trial
Transcranial magnetic stimulation
DeviceTranscranial magnetic stimulation non-invasively applies very small amounts of electrical current to brain tissue; sham stimulation uses the same approach but applies little or no actual stimulation to the brain by using less power or greater distance between the head and the stimulator.
Treatment groups
80 Participants
are divided into 2 treatment groupsGroup A: Arm A: Stimulation then ShamOther 1 intervention
Group B: Arm B: Sham then StimulationOther 1 intervention
Trial outcomes
Primary outcomes
1
Changes in memory performance measured with the number of studied face-word associations recalled
The investigators will measure memory performance before and after treatment to determine whether performance differs as a result of treatment. The main task will be a face-word association task in which participants will study a list of faces paired with single words. After a short delay, one studied face will be presented at a time, and participants will be prompted to recall the word associated with the face. The number of correct face-word associations recalled is the dependent measure.
Time frame
Potential changes will be assessed after each one-week rTMS treatment period. Results will be reported at the end of the study (approximately one year).Secondary outcomes
1
Changes in intrinsic functional connectivity between the target brain region stimulated with rTMS and other brain regions.
The investigators will use MRI and MEG to measure brain function before and after treatment to determine whether brain function differs as a result of treatment.
Time frame
Potential changes will be assessed after each one-week rTMS treatment period. Results will be reported at the end of the study (approximately one year).Sponsors and contacts
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Source ClinicalTrials.gov