TerminatedNot Applicable

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Nonfluent/Agrammatic Variant Primary Progressive Aphasia

Stopped: Lack of recruitment

Canada2 participantsStarted 2018-09-01

Plain-language summary

Nonfluent/agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (nf/avPPA) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease that begins with isolated language deficits. There is currently no cure or treatment for this disease. Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS), a noninvasive neuromodulatory technique, is effective in major depression, and studied in many other conditions including nf/avPPA. Here the investigators propose to study the feasibility and change in language and brain function of a newer rTMS protocol (intermittent theta-burst stimulation, iTBS) using a randomized, blinded crossover design: participants will receive active or sham iTBS for two weeks and then switch groups without them or clinicians knowing their group. The investigators hypothesize that brain function and performance with language tasks will change after active iTBS.

Who can participate

Age range20 Years

SexALL

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AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Clinically diagnosed with nonfluent-agrammatic variant primary progressive aphasia (nfvPPA), by 2011 Gorno-Tempini diagnostic criteria. * Frontotemporal lobar degeneration modified clinical dementia rating scale (FTLD-CDR) score ≤4 (mild). * Is voluntary and competent to consent to treatment, or if demented, to assent and co-consent can be obtained by their legal next-of-kin, legal guardian, or substitute decision maker. * Speaks English enough to be able to complete neuropsychological testing. * Able to adhere to the treatment schedule. * Has a study partner available to answer the Progressive Aphasia Severity Scale (PASS) questionnaire. Exclusion Criteria: * Uncorrected visual or hearing impairment by self report. * History of substance dependence or abuse within the last 3 months. * Has active suicidal intent. * Has a lifetime Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) diagnosis of major depressive disorder, bipolar I or II disorder, schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, delusional disorder, or current psychotic symptoms. * Concomitant major unstable medical illness, cardiac pacemaker or implanted medication pump. * Any significant neurological disorder other than nfvPPA including, but not limited to: any condition likely to be associated with increased intracranial pressure, space occupying brain lesion, history of epilepsy, known cerebral aneurysm, Parkinson's disease, Huntington's chorea, multiple sclerosi…

What they're measuring

Incidence of treatment-emergent adverse events

Timeframe: 6 weeks

Tolerability levels according to the daily Comfort Rating Questionnaire (CRQ)

Timeframe: 6 weeks

Drop out rate

Timeframe: 6 weeks

Trial details

NCT IDNCT03153540

SponsorUniversity of British Columbia

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2022-02-14

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Primary Progressive Nonfluent Aphasia trials

Plain-language summary

Who can participate

Age range20 Years

SexALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.