Tests magnetic brain stimulation to slow thinking decline in Alzheimer's disease
Tests repetitive magnetic stimulation of the precuneus in adults with early-onset Alzheimer's disease.
Plain-language title generated from the registry record
Registry title: Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Slow Down Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Disease
Key facts
- Where
- Amsterdam, NetherlandsSee the site
Could this be for you?
Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.
- Are you between 50 and 85 years old?
Source: NCT07036328, who can take part
Where in Netherlands
- Amsterdam UMCAmsterdam, NetherlandsTaking people
Questions to ask the study team
- How often do I need to come in, and for how long each time?
- Are travel costs paid?
- Can I keep my own doctor?
- What happens if I want to stop?
Trial details
- Who runs it
- Willem de Haan
- Trial code
- NCT07036328
- Record updated
- 12 May 2026
- Original description
New amyloid-targeting drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD) offer minimal or unclear efficacy and often cause adverse events, highlighting the need for new therapies. In recent years, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown increasing success. A recent randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, phase 2 demonstrated promising results from a 24-week rTMS treatment protocol targeting the precuneus. This brain region is considered a main hub of the human brain connectome and a prominent area of AD pathology. The results showed stable cognitive performance and increased brain activity in the treatment group, whereas the sham group worsened. A replication study is planned to further investigate the working mechanism of precuneus-rTMS in AD and to improve understanding of its therapeutic potential.Read full original descriptionShow less
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) to Slow Down Cognitive Decline in Alzheimer's Disease (AD): TMSLA - a Monocentric Randomized Controlled Trial.
New amyloid-targeting drugs for Alzheimer's disease (AD) offer minimal or unclear efficacy and often cause adverse events, highlighting the need for new therapies. In recent years, repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown increasing success. A recent randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, phase 2 demonstrated promising results from a 24-week rTMS treatment protocol targeting the precuneus. This brain region is considered a main hub of the human brain connectome and a prominent area of AD pathology. The results showed stable cognitive performance and increased brain activity in the treatment group, whereas the sham group worsened. A replication study is planned to further investigate the working mechanism of precuneus-rTMS in AD and to improve understanding of its therapeutic potential.
Inclusion: Biomarker-supported Alzheimer's disease (abnormal CSF p-tau/Aβ42 ratio of > 0.023 or amyloid PET positive); Between 50 and 85 years old; Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score of 0.5 or 1; Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score between 18 and 27; Presence of a caregiver.
Exclusion: Presence of metal in the head or cranial/thoracic implants, including cochlear implants; Cholinesterase inhibitors with unstable dosage in the last 2 months; Previous rTMS treatment (for blinding reasons); Medical history of neurodegenerative diseases other than AD, stroke, or epilepsy; Severe psychiatric dysregulation, hampering successful study participation and leading to possible cognitive impairment. Eligibility for participation will be based on clinical evaluation by an expert neurologist and/or psychiatrist; Extensive cerebrovascular damage on MRI classified as Fazekas level 2 or 3. Patients with abnormalities classified as Fazekas level 3 are excluded. For Fazekas level 2, patient's eligibility for participation will be evaluated by an expert neurologist; Extreme claustrophobia or metallic objects in or on the body, preventing MRI and MEG examination.