A pilot randomized controlled double-blind trial of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve memory in mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a study protocol

Abstract Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), prevalent among older adults, often precedes Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD), emphasizing the need for effective interventions. Early intervention in MCI is crucial, not only to alleviate symptoms but to po...

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Main Authors: Maria I. Lapid, Sandeep R. Pagali, Michael R. Basso, Paul E. Croarkin, Jennifer R. Geske, John Huston, Karimul Islam, Boney Joseph, Walter W. Kennebeck, Daehun Kang, Simon Kung, Allison M. LeMahieu, Brian N. Lundstrom, Ronald C. Petersen, Mikaela M. Sarran, Yunhong Shu, Ilya M. Swanson, Erik K. St. Louis, Melissa K. Wang, Yogatheesan Varatharajah, Neeraj Wagh, Kirk M. Welker, Gregory A. Worrell, Bradley F. Boeve
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Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-04-01
Series:Pilot and Feasibility Studies
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-025-01625-5
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author Maria I. Lapid
Sandeep R. Pagali
Michael R. Basso
Paul E. Croarkin
Jennifer R. Geske
John Huston
Karimul Islam
Boney Joseph
Walter W. Kennebeck
Daehun Kang
Simon Kung
Allison M. LeMahieu
Brian N. Lundstrom
Ronald C. Petersen
Mikaela M. Sarran
Yunhong Shu
Ilya M. Swanson
Erik K. St. Louis
Melissa K. Wang
Yogatheesan Varatharajah
Neeraj Wagh
Kirk M. Welker
Gregory A. Worrell
Bradley F. Boeve
author_facet Maria I. Lapid
Sandeep R. Pagali
Michael R. Basso
Paul E. Croarkin
Jennifer R. Geske
John Huston
Karimul Islam
Boney Joseph
Walter W. Kennebeck
Daehun Kang
Simon Kung
Allison M. LeMahieu
Brian N. Lundstrom
Ronald C. Petersen
Mikaela M. Sarran
Yunhong Shu
Ilya M. Swanson
Erik K. St. Louis
Melissa K. Wang
Yogatheesan Varatharajah
Neeraj Wagh
Kirk M. Welker
Gregory A. Worrell
Bradley F. Boeve
author_sort Maria I. Lapid
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), prevalent among older adults, often precedes Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD), emphasizing the need for effective interventions. Early intervention in MCI is crucial, not only to alleviate symptoms but to potentially delay the progression of cognitive decline. The lack of definitive treatments for MCI has prompted the exploration into alternative non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches. Specifically, noninvasive brain stimulation using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated promise in improving cognition in MCI and AD. Objectives Our study will test the feasibility of using intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) technique of rTMS in MCI, pilot test the study design, and collect pilot data on the effect of iTBS over three different brain regions on working memory, new learning, and executive function in MCI. Exploratory objectives are to assess the feasibility and usefulness of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), high-density electroencephalography (HD-EEG), and sleep architecture as potential biomarkers in response to iTBS. Methods A pilot randomized double-blind controlled cross-over trial of iTBS on 20 MCI participants randomized to 10 days of active iTBS (left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or left lateral parietal cortex) or control (vertex). After 4–6-week washout period, they cross over to the alternative treatment arm for another 10 days. Each participant will undergo a total of 20 iTBS sessions. Pre- and post-iTBS assessments include neuropsychological tests, fMRI, HD-EEG, and sleep architecture. Discussion This innovative study aims to test the feasibility of iTBS as a cognitive enhancement strategy in MCI. If our study is feasible, it could lead to a future larger trial to further test whether iTBS can modulate underlying neurobiology and offer a therapeutic avenue to remediate cognitive decline in MCI or ultimately delay progression to dementia. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05327257. Registered 04 April 2022.
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spelling doaj-art-c6b52bf537de4ed388ed5d09b60a9b652025-08-20T01:53:15ZengBMCPilot and Feasibility Studies2055-57842025-04-0111111610.1186/s40814-025-01625-5A pilot randomized controlled double-blind trial of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve memory in mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a study protocolMaria I. Lapid0Sandeep R. Pagali1Michael R. Basso2Paul E. Croarkin3Jennifer R. Geske4John Huston5Karimul Islam6Boney Joseph7Walter W. Kennebeck8Daehun Kang9Simon Kung10Allison M. LeMahieu11Brian N. Lundstrom12Ronald C. Petersen13Mikaela M. Sarran14Yunhong Shu15Ilya M. Swanson16Erik K. St. Louis17Melissa K. Wang18Yogatheesan Varatharajah19Neeraj Wagh20Kirk M. Welker21Gregory A. Worrell22Bradley F. Boeve23Department of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo ClinicDivision of Hospital Internal Medicine, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Radiology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Neurology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Neurology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Neurology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Radiology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Psychiatry and Psychology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Quantitative Health Sciences, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Neurology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Neurology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Medicine Research, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Radiology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Medicine Research, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Neurology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Medicine Research, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Neurology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Neurology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Radiology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Neurology, Mayo ClinicDepartment of Neurology, Mayo ClinicAbstract Background Mild cognitive impairment (MCI), prevalent among older adults, often precedes Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or Alzheimer’s disease-related dementias (ADRD), emphasizing the need for effective interventions. Early intervention in MCI is crucial, not only to alleviate symptoms but to potentially delay the progression of cognitive decline. The lack of definitive treatments for MCI has prompted the exploration into alternative non-pharmacological therapeutic approaches. Specifically, noninvasive brain stimulation using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated promise in improving cognition in MCI and AD. Objectives Our study will test the feasibility of using intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) technique of rTMS in MCI, pilot test the study design, and collect pilot data on the effect of iTBS over three different brain regions on working memory, new learning, and executive function in MCI. Exploratory objectives are to assess the feasibility and usefulness of functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), high-density electroencephalography (HD-EEG), and sleep architecture as potential biomarkers in response to iTBS. Methods A pilot randomized double-blind controlled cross-over trial of iTBS on 20 MCI participants randomized to 10 days of active iTBS (left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or left lateral parietal cortex) or control (vertex). After 4–6-week washout period, they cross over to the alternative treatment arm for another 10 days. Each participant will undergo a total of 20 iTBS sessions. Pre- and post-iTBS assessments include neuropsychological tests, fMRI, HD-EEG, and sleep architecture. Discussion This innovative study aims to test the feasibility of iTBS as a cognitive enhancement strategy in MCI. If our study is feasible, it could lead to a future larger trial to further test whether iTBS can modulate underlying neurobiology and offer a therapeutic avenue to remediate cognitive decline in MCI or ultimately delay progression to dementia. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05327257. Registered 04 April 2022.https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-025-01625-5Noninvasive brain stimulationNeuromodulationCognitive enhancementMemory disorderCognitive declineDementia
spellingShingle Maria I. Lapid
Sandeep R. Pagali
Michael R. Basso
Paul E. Croarkin
Jennifer R. Geske
John Huston
Karimul Islam
Boney Joseph
Walter W. Kennebeck
Daehun Kang
Simon Kung
Allison M. LeMahieu
Brian N. Lundstrom
Ronald C. Petersen
Mikaela M. Sarran
Yunhong Shu
Ilya M. Swanson
Erik K. St. Louis
Melissa K. Wang
Yogatheesan Varatharajah
Neeraj Wagh
Kirk M. Welker
Gregory A. Worrell
Bradley F. Boeve
A pilot randomized controlled double-blind trial of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve memory in mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a study protocol
Pilot and Feasibility Studies
Noninvasive brain stimulation
Neuromodulation
Cognitive enhancement
Memory disorder
Cognitive decline
Dementia
title A pilot randomized controlled double-blind trial of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve memory in mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a study protocol
title_full A pilot randomized controlled double-blind trial of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve memory in mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a study protocol
title_fullStr A pilot randomized controlled double-blind trial of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve memory in mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a study protocol
title_full_unstemmed A pilot randomized controlled double-blind trial of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve memory in mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a study protocol
title_short A pilot randomized controlled double-blind trial of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) to improve memory in mild cognitive impairment (MCI): a study protocol
title_sort pilot randomized controlled double blind trial of intermittent theta burst stimulation itbs repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation rtms to improve memory in mild cognitive impairment mci a study protocol
topic Noninvasive brain stimulation
Neuromodulation
Cognitive enhancement
Memory disorder
Cognitive decline
Dementia
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40814-025-01625-5
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