Novel Personalized Non Invasive Combined Magnetic and Electrical Stimulation of the DMN in Mild AD Patients

NCT ID: NCT07075770

Last Updated: 2026-01-13

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 60 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-01-01
• Study Completion Date: 2027-08-31

Brief Summary

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasingly recognized as a disorder marked by early synaptic dysfunction and disrupted brain network connectivity, beyond the traditional focus on amyloid pathology. Synaptic plasticity (crucial for learning and memory) is compromised in AD and represents a promising therapeutic target. In particular, alterations in the Default Mode Network (DMN), especially in regions like the precuneus, suggest that restoring connectivity and enhancing plasticity may improve cognitive outcomes. This project proposes a novel, precision-delivered non-invasive brain stimulation protocol that combines repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) over the DMN. The intervention will be evaluated through cognitive testing, blood-based biomarkers, MRI and TMS-EEG, alongside immersive virtual environments to assess sensorimotor and cognitive function. This approach aims to test neuromodulation strategies capable of slowing neurodegeneration and supporting early detection and rehabilitation in AD.

Detailed Description

Patients will be screened at trial sites for determination of eligibility to enter the study on the basis of diagnostic evaluations, according to current diagnostic criteria for probable AD, and safety assessments (vital sign complete physical and neurological examinations). The efficacy assessments (cognitive/behavioral evaluations) will be performed at Baseline before starting treatment and repeated on- treatment at Weeks 0, 12 and 24. Plasma biomarkers will be collected at baseline and at Week 12 and 24. Visit windows are ±7 days for all the scheduled visits. In case a visit is performed outside its window, subsequent visits will be performed in keeping with the original visit schedule. At each in-clinic visit (or upon early termination), AEs will be recorded, at screening, baseline, Week 12 and 24 vital signs measured, and physical and neurological examination performed.

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease

Study Design

• Allocation Method: RANDOMIZED
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Primary Study Purpose: TREATMENT
• Blinding Strategy: QUADRUPLE

Study Groups

combined iTBS-tACS

32 sessions of combined iTBS-tACS (5 times/week for 2 weeks -intensive phase-; 1 time/week for 22 weeks -maintenance phase-)

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Combined iTBS-tACS

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The iTBS-tACS will be applied over the precuneus and last for 190 s, with the tACS electrode positioned on the scalp and the iTBS coil positioned just above it. The iTBS protocol will consist of 600 pulses, delivered in 20 trains of 10 bursts with an interval of 8 seconds between each train. Each burst consists of three pulses at 50Hz, repeated at 5Hz. The total duration will therefore be 190 seconds. iTBS and tACS will be synchronized using a BrainTrigger and SIGNAL Software so that both stimulations will start simultaneously

iTBS-sham tACS

32 sessions of combined iTBS-sham tACS (5 times/week for 2 weeks -intensive phase-; 1 time/week for 22 weeks -maintenance phase-)

Group Type: ACTIVE_COMPARATOR

iTBS-sham tACS

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The iTBS-tACS will be applied over the precuneus and last for 190 s, with the tACS electrode positioned on the scalp and the iTBS coil positioned just above it. The iTBS protocol will consist of 600 pulses, delivered in 20 trains of 10 bursts with an interval of 8 seconds between each train. Each burst consists of three pulses at 50Hz, repeated at 5Hz. The total duration will therefore be 190 seconds.

For the tACS sham condition, the electric current will not be applied, but there will be a 2 s 1 mA ramp up and 2 s 1 mA ramp down, to give the participant real stimulation feelings.

sham iTBS- sham tACS

32 sessions of sham iTBS- sham tACS (5 times/week for 2 weeks -intensive phase-; 1 time/week for 22 weeks -maintenance phase-)

Group Type: PLACEBO_COMPARATOR

sham iTBS- sham tACS

Intervention Type: DEVICE

The iTBS-tACS will be applied over the precuneus and last for 190 s, with the tACS electrode positioned on the scalp and the iTBS coil positioned just above it. The iTBS protocol will consist of 600 pulses, delivered in 20 trains of 10 bursts with an interval of 8 seconds between each train. Each burst consists of three pulses at 50Hz, repeated at 5Hz. The total duration will therefore be 190 seconds.

For the iTBS sham condition, stimulation was delivered with the coil angled at 90°, with only the edge of the coil resting on the scalp..

For the tACS sham condition, the electric current will not be applied, but there will be a 2 s 1 mA ramp up and 2 s 1 mA ramp down, to give the participant real stimulation feelings.

Interventions

Combined iTBS-tACS

The iTBS-tACS will be applied over the precuneus and last for 190 s, with the tACS electrode positioned on the scalp and the iTBS coil positioned just above it. The iTBS protocol will consist of 600 pulses, delivered in 20 trains of 10 bursts with an interval of 8 seconds between each train. Each burst consists of three pulses at 50Hz, repeated at 5Hz. The total duration will therefore be 190 seconds. iTBS and tACS will be synchronized using a BrainTrigger and SIGNAL Software so that both stimulations will start simultaneously

Intervention Type: DEVICE

iTBS-sham tACS

The iTBS-tACS will be applied over the precuneus and last for 190 s, with the tACS electrode positioned on the scalp and the iTBS coil positioned just above it. The iTBS protocol will consist of 600 pulses, delivered in 20 trains of 10 bursts with an interval of 8 seconds between each train. Each burst consists of three pulses at 50Hz, repeated at 5Hz. The total duration will therefore be 190 seconds.

For the tACS sham condition, the electric current will not be applied, but there will be a 2 s 1 mA ramp up and 2 s 1 mA ramp down, to give the participant real stimulation feelings.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

sham iTBS- sham tACS

The iTBS-tACS will be applied over the precuneus and last for 190 s, with the tACS electrode positioned on the scalp and the iTBS coil positioned just above it. The iTBS protocol will consist of 600 pulses, delivered in 20 trains of 10 bursts with an interval of 8 seconds between each train. Each burst consists of three pulses at 50Hz, repeated at 5Hz. The total duration will therefore be 190 seconds.

For the iTBS sham condition, stimulation was delivered with the coil angled at 90°, with only the edge of the coil resting on the scalp..

For the tACS sham condition, the electric current will not be applied, but there will be a 2 s 1 mA ramp up and 2 s 1 mA ramp down, to give the participant real stimulation feelings.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• Patients with a diagnosis of AD according to IWG criteria
• 20 > MMSE < 28
• Patients with CSF specific biomarker profile or with a positive Amyloid Pet Scan consistent with the presence of amyloid pathology
• Global Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) ≤1
• Previous decline in cognition for more than six months as documented in patient medical records
• A caregiver available and living in the same household or interacting with the patient and available
• Patients living at home or nursing home setting without continuous nursing care
• General health status acceptable for a participation in a 6-month clinical trial
• Stable pharmacological treatment for at least one month prior to screening
• No regular intake of prohibited medications.
• Signed informed consent by the patient. If there are any doubts that the patient is mentally capable of giving informed consent, the patient will be examined and verified to be mentally capable by an independent physician/ neurologist, prior to the initiation of any study specific procedure. Signed consent of the caregiver

Exclusion Criteria

• Failure to undergo screening or baseline exams
• Hospitalization or change in chronic concomitant medications one month before the screening or during the screening period
• Clinical, laboratory, or neuroimaging results consistent with:

1. other primary degenerative dementia (Lewy body dementia, frontotemporal dementia, Huntington's disease, Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease, Down syndrome, etc.);

2. other neurodegenerative conditions (Parkinson's disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, etc.);

3. orthostatic hypotension and autonomic disorders

4. cerebrovascular disease (major infarction, a strategic infarction or multiple lacunar infarctions, extensive white matter lesions > one quarter of total white matter);

5. other central nervous system diseases (severe traumatic brain injury, tumors, subdural hematoma, or other space-occupying processes, etc.);

6. seizure disorder.

7. Other infectious, metabolic, or systemic diseases affecting the central nervous system (syphilis, existing hypothyroidism, current vitamin B12 or folate deficiency, serum electrolytes outside normal limits, juvenile diabetes, etc.).

• A current DSM-V diagnosis of major depression, schizophrenia, or bipolar disorder.
• Clinically significant, advanced, or unstable disease that may interfere with primary or secondary variable assessments and may affect the assessment of the patient's clinical or mental state, or expose the patient to special risk, such as:

1. Disability that may prevent the patient from completing all study requirements (e.g., blindness, deafness, severe language difficulties, etc.);

2. Opioid-containing analgesics

3. Suspected or known drug or alcohol abuse, i.e., more than about 60 g of alcohol (about 1 liter of beer or 500 ml of wine) per day, indicated by a high mean corpuscular volume (MCV) above the normal value at screening;

4. Any condition that, in the investigator's judgment, makes the patient unsuitable for inclusion

• Minimum Eligible Age: 50 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 85 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

IRCCS Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo

OTHER

Sponsor Role: collaborator

I.R.C.C.S. Fondazione Santa Lucia

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Responsibility Role: SPONSOR

Principal Investigators

Giacomo Koch, Prof.

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation

Locations

IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation

Rome, Italy, Italy

Site Status: RECRUITING

I.R.C.C.S. Centro Neurolesi Bonino Pulejo

Messina, Sicily, Italy

Site Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING

Countries

Italy

Central Contacts

Giacomo Koch, Prof

Role: CONTACT

g.koch@hsantlucia.it

+390651501181

Facility Contacts

Giacomo Koch, Prof

Role: primary

g.koch@hsantalucia.it

+390651501181

Rosaria De Luca, PhD

Role: primary

rosaria.deluca@irccsme.it

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Other Identifiers

PNRR-MCNT2-2023-12377518

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id