Fact CheckerSign in

NCT06087926Recruiting

Apathy in Parkinson Disease TMS Study

Investigation of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation for the Treatment of Apathy

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Last updated 8 Jul 2026

Brief summary (registry, in English)

The goal of this clinical trial is to develop non-invasive brain stimulation targets for the treatment of apathy, or motivation problems, in Parkinson Disease. The main questions the study aims to answer are: 1. Does transcranial magnetic stimulation change effort task performance in Parkinson's Disease patients? 2. Is there a link between brain signals and apathy? Participants will * complete questionnaires and assessments * perform an effort task * have their brain activity recorded (EEG) * receive non-invasive brain stimulation (TMS) Researchers will compare two stimulation locations (experimental site and control site) to see if TMS of the experimental site has an effect on apathy. Participants will receive stimulation of both sites (during separate visits).

Status (registry)
Recruiting
Study type
Interventional
Enrollment
100 (estimated)
First submitted
11 Oct 2023
Start date
1 May 2024
Primary completion date
30 Jun 2027
Lead sponsor
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
NCT number
NCT06087926

What you commit to

  • Study type: Interventional
  • Planned participants: 100
  • From 1 May 2024 to the primary completion date, 30 Jun 2027
  • 1 site in 1 country
  • Visits and tests: ask the trial team, the registry does not list them

Built from the registry fields of ClinicalTrials.gov. It describes the study, not your situation.

Who cannot take part

Copied verbatim from ClinicalTrials.gov and grouped by topic. Only the trial team decides who can take part.

Prior treatment

  • Presence of any implanted metal devices including, but not limited to, pacemakers, deep brain stimulators, vagal nerve stimulators, bladder stimulators, or cochlear implants.

Other illness

  • Presence of dementia (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \< 21).
  • History of epilepsy or brain surgery.
  • Patients with clinically significant medical or neurological conditions which may be an alternative cause of parkinsonism such as repeated brain injury, anti-dopaminergic medications, anoxic brain injury, or significant basal ganglia strokes.
  • Presence of other known central nervous system disease that may interfere with performance or interpretation of EEG or TMS.
  • Presence of medical contraindications to TMS such as implanted stimulators, history of mania or bipolar disorder, history of epilepsy.

Other

  • Inability to provide informed consent.
  • Inability to perform effort task (determined during the titration session).
  • Severe tremor or dyskinesia that would interfere with EEG (determined by the PI).

Who the study is looking for

  • Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson Disease.
  • At least 4 years of symptoms.
  • On dopaminergic medication for Parkinson Disease.
  • Stable on dopaminergic medication and other medications which may influence apathy (such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, stimulant medications) for at least 4 weeks prior to first study visit and remain stable throughout the study period.
  • Hospital's study-specific informed consent must be obtained.
  • Must have capacity to provide informed consent in English.
  • For female participants, confirmation that they have not had a menstrual period in over 12 months, or that they will use an effective form of contraception during the study.

Age in the registry: 55 years to 80 years · Sex: All · Does not accept healthy volunteers

Full criteria on ClinicalTrials.gov

Sites (1)

Sites in registry order. Pick your city on the disease page to sort them by distance.

SiteCityCountrySite status
UNC-Chapel Hill, Cassidy Lab
Coordinator of this site? Confirm its status
Chapel HillUnited StatesRecruiting

This page is information, not medical advice. Discuss any trial with your doctor.