Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Postoperative Neurocognitive Recovery

NCT ID: NCT06482749

Last Updated: 2025-07-31

Study Results

Results pending

The study team has not published outcome measurements, participant flow, or safety data for this trial yet. Check back later for updates.

Basic Information

Get a concise snapshot of the trial, including recruitment status, study phase, enrollment targets, and key timeline milestones.

Recruitment Status

RECRUITING

Clinical Phase

NA

Total Enrollment

568 participants

Study Classification

INTERVENTIONAL

Study Start Date

2025-07-28

Study Completion Date

2029-02-28

Brief Summary

Review the sponsor-provided synopsis that highlights what the study is about and why it is being conducted.

Patients with preoperative cognitive impairment are at increased risks of delayed neurocognitive recovery (DNR) and postoperative neurocognitive disorder (POCD). Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has been used to improve cognitive function in patients with cognitive impairement. This trial is designed to compare the effects of rTMS versus sham intervention on postoperative neurocognitive function in patients with preoperative cognitive impairment.

Detailed Description

Dive into the extended narrative that explains the scientific background, objectives, and procedures in greater depth.

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) affects 10-15% of the population over 65 years old. In patients for elective non-cardiac and emergency surgeries, the pooled prevalences of unrecognized cognitive impairment were 37.0% and 50.0%, respectively. Patients with preoperative cognitive impairment are at increased risk of delayed neurocognitive recovery (DNR) and postoperative neurocognitive disorder (POCD). Therefore, perioperative neurocognitive protection is particularly important for patients with preoperative cognitive impairment.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a neural modulation technique. By acting on the brain and altering the membrane potential of cortical neurons, the generated pulsed magnetic fields affect neural metabolism and electrical activity and trigger a series of physiological and biochemical reactions. It was found that high frequency (\>5 Hz) rTMS increases cortical excitability, whereas low frequency (\<1Hz) rTMS reduces corticol excitability. The mechanism by which rTMS regulates brain function is generally believed to be related to the long-term enhancement and long-term inhibition of synaptic transmission function.

The left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) is an important target of rTMS intervention for improving cognitive function. A meta-analysis showed that high-frequency rTMS on the DLPFC and low-frequency rTMS on the right medial prefrontal cortex improved memory function; high frequency rTMS on the right inferior frontal gyrus enhanced executive ability in non-surgical patients with mild cognitive impairment or Alzheimer's disease. Another meta-analysis showed that high-frequency rTMS on DLPFC is an effective therapeutic option for improving cognitive function in Alzheimer patients.

This trial is designed to compare the effects of rTMS versus sham intervention on postoperative neurocognitive function in patients with preoperative cognitive impairment.

Conditions

See the medical conditions and disease areas that this research is targeting or investigating.

Older Patients Cognitive Impairment Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Delayed Neurocognitive Recovery Postoperative Neurocognitive Disorder

Study Design

Understand how the trial is structured, including allocation methods, masking strategies, primary purpose, and other design elements.

Allocation Method

RANDOMIZED

Intervention Model

PARALLEL

Primary Study Purpose

PREVENTION

Blinding Strategy

TRIPLE

Participants Investigators Outcome Assessors

Study Groups

Review each arm or cohort in the study, along with the interventions and objectives associated with them.

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Group

Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for a 5-day period (1 day before surgery and 4 consecutive days after surgery, twice daily \[10-12 am and 6-8 pm\], no intervention on the day of the surgery). Parameters of rTMS: "8" shaped coil, 10 Hz, 80% resting motor threshold (RMT), 2000 pulses (5s × 40 trains, 25 s interval), 20 minutes.

Group Type EXPERIMENTAL

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for a 5-day period (1 day before surgery and 4 consecutive days after surgery, twice daily \[10-12 am and 6-8 pm\], no intervention on the day of the surgery). Parameters of rTMS: "8" shaped coil, 10 Hz, 80% resting motor threshold (RMT), 2000 pulses (5s × 40 trains, 25 s interval), 20 minutes.

Sham Stimulation Group

Sham repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for a 5-day period (1 day before surgery and 4 consecutive days after surgery, twice daily \[10-12 am and 6-8 pm\], no intervention on the day of the surgery). Parameters of rTMS: "8" shaped sham coil, 10 Hz, 80% resting motor threshold (RMT), 2000 pulses (5s × 40 trains, 25 s interval), 20 minutes.

Group Type SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham stimulation

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for a 5-day period (1 day before surgery and 4 consecutive days after surgery, twice daily \[10-12 am and 6-8 pm\], no intervention on the day of the surgery). Parameters of rTMS: "8" shaped sham coil, 10 Hz, 80% resting motor threshold (RMT), 2000 pulses (5s × 40 trains, 25 s interval), 20 minutes.

Interventions

Learn about the drugs, procedures, or behavioral strategies being tested and how they are applied within this trial.

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for a 5-day period (1 day before surgery and 4 consecutive days after surgery, twice daily \[10-12 am and 6-8 pm\], no intervention on the day of the surgery). Parameters of rTMS: "8" shaped coil, 10 Hz, 80% resting motor threshold (RMT), 2000 pulses (5s × 40 trains, 25 s interval), 20 minutes.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Sham stimulation

Sham repeated transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) over left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) for a 5-day period (1 day before surgery and 4 consecutive days after surgery, twice daily \[10-12 am and 6-8 pm\], no intervention on the day of the surgery). Parameters of rTMS: "8" shaped sham coil, 10 Hz, 80% resting motor threshold (RMT), 2000 pulses (5s × 40 trains, 25 s interval), 20 minutes.

Intervention Type DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Check the participation requirements, including inclusion and exclusion rules, age limits, and whether healthy volunteers are accepted.

Inclusion Criteria

1. Aged ≥65 years;
2. Patients with preoperative mild to moderate cognitive impairment, defined as 9\<Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)\<26;
3. Scheduled for elective non-cardiac surgery under general anesthesia, with an expected surgical duration of \>2 hours;
4. Expected to stay in hospital for at least 5 days after surgery.

Exclusion Criteria

1. Left-handed;
2. Primary school education level or below;
3. Comorbid diseases including mental illness, intellectual disability, auditory and visual dysfunction, language impairment, severe neurological disorders, or other diseases that impede the completion of evaluation;
4. Neurosurgery;
5. Presence of contraindications to rTMS treatment, including epilepsy, pregnant or lactating women, or with a metal or electric implanted device (e.g., deep brain stimulator, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, aneurysm clip, pacemaker, cochlear implant, or surgical staples on the scalp);
6. Other situations that are deemed unsuitable for inclusion in the study.
Minimum Eligible Age

65 Years

Eligible Sex

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Sponsors

Meet the organizations funding or collaborating on the study and learn about their roles.

The First Affiliated Hospital of Air Force Medicial University

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Peking University Shenzhen Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role collaborator

Peking University First Hospital

OTHER

Sponsor Role lead

Responsible Party

Identify the individual or organization who holds primary responsibility for the study information submitted to regulators.

Dong-Xin Wang

Professor

Responsibility Role PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Learn about the lead researchers overseeing the trial and their institutional affiliations.

Dong-Xin Wang, MD, PhD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Peking University First Hospital

Locations

Explore where the study is taking place and check the recruitment status at each participating site.

Peking University First Hospital

Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China

Site Status RECRUITING

Peking University Shenzhen Hospital

Shenzhen, Guangzhou, China

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University

Xi'an, Shannxi, China

Site Status NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

Review the countries where the study has at least one active or historical site.

China

Central Contacts

Reach out to these primary contacts for questions about participation or study logistics.

Dong-Xin Wang, MD, PhD

Role: CONTACT

8610 83572784

Hao Kong, MD

Role: CONTACT

8610 83575138

Facility Contacts

Find local site contact details for specific facilities participating in the trial.

Dong-Xin Wang, MD, PhD

Role: primary

8610 83572784

Hao Kong, MD

Role: backup

8610 83575138

Tao Luo, MD

Role: primary

0755 83923333

Zhi-Hong Lu, MD, PhD

Role: primary

References

Explore related publications, articles, or registry entries linked to this study.

Anderson ND. State of the science on mild cognitive impairment (MCI). CNS Spectr. 2019 Feb;24(1):78-87. doi: 10.1017/S1092852918001347. Epub 2019 Jan 17.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30651152 (View on PubMed)

Kapoor P, Chen L, Saripella A, Waseem R, Nagappa M, Wong J, Riazi S, Gold D, Tang-Wai DF, Suen C, Englesakis M, Norman R, Sinha SK, Chung F. Prevalence of preoperative cognitive impairment in older surgical patients.: A systematic review and meta-analysis. J Clin Anesth. 2022 Feb;76:110574. doi: 10.1016/j.jclinane.2021.110574. Epub 2021 Nov 5.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 34749047 (View on PubMed)

Park S, Kim J, Ha Y, Kim KN, Yi S, Koo BN. Preoperative mild cognitive impairment as a risk factor of postoperative cognitive dysfunction in elderly patients undergoing spine surgery. Front Aging Neurosci. 2024 Jan 12;16:1292942. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2024.1292942. eCollection 2024.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 38282693 (View on PubMed)

Silbert B, Evered L, Scott DA, McMahon S, Choong P, Ames D, Maruff P, Jamrozik K. Preexisting cognitive impairment is associated with postoperative cognitive dysfunction after hip joint replacement surgery. Anesthesiology. 2015 Jun;122(6):1224-34. doi: 10.1097/ALN.0000000000000671.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 25859906 (View on PubMed)

Hallett M. Transcranial magnetic stimulation: a primer. Neuron. 2007 Jul 19;55(2):187-99. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2007.06.026.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17640522 (View on PubMed)

Du J, Yang F, Hu J, Hu J, Xu Q, Cong N, Zhang Q, Liu L, Mantini D, Zhang Z, Lu G, Liu X. Effects of high- and low-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on motor recovery in early stroke patients: Evidence from a randomized controlled trial with clinical, neurophysiological and functional imaging assessments. Neuroimage Clin. 2019;21:101620. doi: 10.1016/j.nicl.2018.101620. Epub 2018 Dec 3.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30527907 (View on PubMed)

Wang Q, Zhang D, Zhao YY, Hai H, Ma YW. Effects of high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation over the contralesional motor cortex on motor recovery in severe hemiplegic stroke: A randomized clinical trial. Brain Stimul. 2020 Jul-Aug;13(4):979-986. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2020.03.020. Epub 2020 Apr 2.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 32380449 (View on PubMed)

Chen Q, Shen W, Sun H, Zhang H, Liu C, Chen Z, Yu L, Cai X, Ke J, Li L, Zhang L, Fang Q. The effect of coupled inhibitory-facilitatory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation on shaping early reorganization of the motor network after stroke. Brain Res. 2022 Sep 1;1790:147959. doi: 10.1016/j.brainres.2022.147959. Epub 2022 May 30.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 35654120 (View on PubMed)

Gaudeau-Bosma C, Moulier V, Allard AC, Sidhoumi D, Bouaziz N, Braha S, Volle E, Januel D. Effect of two weeks of rTMS on brain activity in healthy subjects during an n-back task: a randomized double blind study. Brain Stimul. 2013 Jul;6(4):569-75. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2012.10.009. Epub 2012 Nov 19.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 23194830 (View on PubMed)

Alcala-Lozano R, Morelos-Santana E, Cortes-Sotres JF, Garza-Villarreal EA, Sosa-Ortiz AL, Gonzalez-Olvera JJ. Similar clinical improvement and maintenance after rTMS at 5 Hz using a simple vs. complex protocol in Alzheimer's disease. Brain Stimul. 2018 May-Jun;11(3):625-627. doi: 10.1016/j.brs.2017.12.011. Epub 2017 Dec 29.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 29326021 (View on PubMed)

Bressler SL, Menon V. Large-scale brain networks in cognition: emerging methods and principles. Trends Cogn Sci. 2010 Jun;14(6):277-90. doi: 10.1016/j.tics.2010.04.004. Epub 2010 May 20.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 20493761 (View on PubMed)

Li Y, Wang L, Jia M, Guo J, Wang H, Wang M. The effects of high-frequency rTMS over the left DLPFC on cognitive control in young healthy participants. PLoS One. 2017 Jun 14;12(6):e0179430. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0179430. eCollection 2017.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 28614399 (View on PubMed)

Chou YH, Ton That V, Sundman M. A systematic review and meta-analysis of rTMS effects on cognitive enhancement in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease. Neurobiol Aging. 2020 Feb;86:1-10. doi: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2019.08.020. Epub 2019 Aug 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 31783330 (View on PubMed)

Simko P, Kent JA, Rektorova I. Is non-invasive brain stimulation effective for cognitive enhancement in Alzheimer's disease? An updated meta-analysis. Clin Neurophysiol. 2022 Dec;144:23-40. doi: 10.1016/j.clinph.2022.09.010. Epub 2022 Sep 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 36215904 (View on PubMed)

Gao Y, Qiu Y, Yang Q, Tang S, Gong J, Fan H, Wu Y, Lu X. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation combined with cognitive training for cognitive function and activities of daily living in patients with post-stroke cognitive impairment: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Ageing Res Rev. 2023 Jun;87:101919. doi: 10.1016/j.arr.2023.101919. Epub 2023 Mar 31.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37004840 (View on PubMed)

Chu CS, Li CT, Brunoni AR, Yang FC, Tseng PT, Tu YK, Stubbs B, Carvalho AF, Thompson T, Rajji TK, Yeh TC, Tsai CK, Chen TY, Li DJ, Hsu CW, Wu YC, Yu CL, Liang CS. Cognitive effects and acceptability of non-invasive brain stimulation on Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment: a component network meta-analysis. J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry. 2021 Feb;92(2):195-203. doi: 10.1136/jnnp-2020-323870. Epub 2020 Oct 28.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 33115936 (View on PubMed)

Miller A, Allen RJ, Juma AA, Chowdhury R, Burke MR. Does repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation improve cognitive function in age-related neurodegenerative diseases? A systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Geriatr Psychiatry. 2023 Aug;38(8):e5974. doi: 10.1002/gps.5974.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 37526325 (View on PubMed)

Zhang Y, Shan GJ, Zhang YX, Cao SJ, Zhu SN, Li HJ, Ma D, Wang DX; First Study of Perioperative Organ Protection (SPOP1) investigators. Propofol compared with sevoflurane general anaesthesia is associated with decreased delayed neurocognitive recovery in older adults. Br J Anaesth. 2018 Sep;121(3):595-604. doi: 10.1016/j.bja.2018.05.059. Epub 2018 Jul 27.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 30115258 (View on PubMed)

Jeste DV, Palmer BW, Appelbaum PS, Golshan S, Glorioso D, Dunn LB, Kim K, Meeks T, Kraemer HC. A new brief instrument for assessing decisional capacity for clinical research. Arch Gen Psychiatry. 2007 Aug;64(8):966-74. doi: 10.1001/archpsyc.64.8.966.

Reference Type BACKGROUND
PMID: 17679641 (View on PubMed)

Other Identifiers

Review additional registry numbers or institutional identifiers associated with this trial.

2024-232

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id

More Related Trials

Additional clinical trials that may be relevant based on similarity analysis.