Effect of Accelerated Neuromodulation of Anterior Cingulate Cortex to Enhance Cognition in Older Adults With Mild Memory Problems

NCT ID: NCT07212504

Last Updated: 2025-10-28

Basic Information

• Recruitment Status: RECRUITING
• Clinical Phase: NA
• Total Enrollment: 30 participants
• Study Classification: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Start Date: 2025-11-15
• Study Completion Date: 2027-03-15

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to test whether an accelerated deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) protocol in combination with cognitive training can improve cognitive abilities in older adults with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) or Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI). The study will look at whether it is safe and tolerable to use accelerated dTMS to enhance the benefits of cognitive training in older adults, and will also gather early information on the effects of accelerated dTMS on memory and other cognitive abilities.

Detailed Description

This study will examine the effects of combining cognitive remediation with accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (a-iTBS) using the H7 deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) coil to target the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in older adults aged 55-85 with MCI or SCD. Thirty older adults will participate in a single site, double-blind, randomized sham-controlled trial using an accelerated schedule of multiple dTMS sessions per day for 2-5 consecutive days, followed by 6 weeks of online cognitive remediation for both sham and dTMS interventions. The primary goal of the study is to establish the feasibility of an a-iTBS protocol combined with cognitive training in older adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI) and Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) and to obtain preliminary evidence of treatment efficacy.

Conditions

Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI); Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD)

Study Design

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

Study Groups

20-40 sessions of iTBS dTMS and 6-weeks of online cognitive remediation

Group Type: EXPERIMENTAL

Active Brainsway H7-Coil Deep TMS System

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) is a new form of TMS which allows direct stimulation of deeper neuronal pathways than the standard TMS. The H-coil is a novel dTMS coil designed to allow deeper brain stimulation without a significant increase of electric fields induced in superficial cortical regions. dTMS will be administered 6-8 times a day for 2-5 consecutive days.

20-40 sessions of sham stimulation and 6-weeks of online cognitive remediation

Group Type: SHAM_COMPARATOR

Sham Brainsway H1-Coil Deep TMS System

Intervention Type: DEVICE

In addition to the active H7-coil, a sham coil is included in the H1-coil helmet.The sham treatment will be administered using the H1-coil helmet 6-8 times a day for 2-5 consecutive days.

Interventions

Active Brainsway H7-Coil Deep TMS System

Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (dTMS) is a new form of TMS which allows direct stimulation of deeper neuronal pathways than the standard TMS. The H-coil is a novel dTMS coil designed to allow deeper brain stimulation without a significant increase of electric fields induced in superficial cortical regions. dTMS will be administered 6-8 times a day for 2-5 consecutive days.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Sham Brainsway H1-Coil Deep TMS System

In addition to the active H7-coil, a sham coil is included in the H1-coil helmet.The sham treatment will be administered using the H1-coil helmet 6-8 times a day for 2-5 consecutive days.

Intervention Type: DEVICE

Eligibility Criteria

Inclusion Criteria

• 55 - 85 years of age (on the day of randomization)
• are male or post-menopausal female
• have a diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment (MCI) based on Montreal Cognitive Assessment score < 26 or where available, results from clinical neuropsychological assessment, OR subjective memory concerns and first degree relative, living or deceased, with a probable or confirmed diagnosis of AD
• score 24 or higher on the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)
• are willing to provide informed consent
• are able to follow the treatment schedule
• are stable on medications for 2 months and are not expected to change medication during the entire study period (if they are taking medications)
• have a satisfactory safety screening questionnaire for TMS

Exclusion Criteria

• have a metal plate in their head(such as an ear implant, implanted brain stimulators, aneurysm clips). Dental devices and implants that are non-magnetic are safe.
• have known increased pressure or a history of increased pressure in their brain, which may increase their risk for having seizures
• have a cardiac pacemaker
• have an implanted medication pump
• have a central venous line
• have a history of any psychotic disorder, bipolar disorder, eating disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, or dementia
• have a history of substance abuse in the last 6 months
• have a history of stroke or other brain lesions
• have a personal history of epilepsy
• have a family history of epilepsy
• are a pregnant or breast-feeding woman
• have a history of abnormal MRI of the brain
• have untreated hypo- or hyper-thyroidism
• have unstable medical condition(s)
• have any other known contraindications to TMS
• are on unstable doses of any psychotropic medication such as antidepressants, antipsychotic, mood stabilizers or memory enhancing medications
• regularly use benzodiazepines or other hypnotics within 2 weeks of randomization

• Minimum Eligible Age: 55 Years
• Maximum Eligible Age: 85 Years
• Eligible Sex: ALL
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No

Sponsors

Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest

OTHER

Sponsor Role: lead

Responsible Party

Linda Mah, MD

Clinician Scientist

Responsibility Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Principal Investigators

Linda Mah, MD

Role: PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR

Baycrest Rotman Research Institute

Locations

Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest

Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Site Status: RECRUITING

Countries

Canada

Central Contacts

Amanda Chao, MPH

Role: CONTACT

preventad@research.baycrest.org

416-785-2500 ext. 3434

Linda Mah, MD

Role: CONTACT

preventad@research.baycrest.org

416-785-2500 ext. 3434

Facility Contacts

Linda Mah, MD

Role: primary

preventad@research.baycrest.org

416-785-2500 ext. 3434

Other Identifiers

25-04

Identifier Type: -

Identifier Source: org_study_id