UnknownNot Applicable

Can Magnetic Brain Stimulation Improve Language Function in Primary Progressive Aphasia

Canada10 participantsStarted 2020-06-01

Plain-language summary

The purpose of this study is to investigate the feasibility of using repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) - a form of non-invasive brain stimulation - to improve language functioning in individuals who have the logopenic variant of primary progressive aphasia (PPA-L) - a slowly progressive impairment of language, characterized by difficulties with word-finding, sentence repetition and sentence comprehension.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

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

Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of PPA-L (confirmed by a neurologist or neuropsychiatrist who has observed the patient for at least one year); * Mild to moderate language impairment as assessed by the Druks and Masterson Naming Task; * Native English speaker. Exclusion Criteria: * Cerebrovascular disorders, hydrocephalus or intra-cranial mass, documented by MRI; * History of traumatic brain injury, seizures, or another neurological disease; * Significant medical problems (e.g. poorly controlled diabetes or hypertension or cancer within the past 5 years); * Major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, substance use disorder or mental retardation according to the criteria of the DSM-IV; * Any contraindication for rTMS (e.g., implanted metal devices; cardiac pacemaker or pacemaker wires; neurostimulators; implanted pumps, metal in the body \[rods, plates, screws, shrapnel, dentures, IUD\] or metallic particles in the body, surgical clips in the head, previous neurosurgery, cochlear implants, prosthetic heart valves); * Currently pregnant or breastfeeding.

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Change in score on the Druks and Masterson Naming Task

Timeframe: One week pre- and one week post-rTMS treatment

Trial details

NCT IDNCT04193267

SponsorUniversity of Manitoba

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2022-08

Contact for this trial

Benjamin Meek

2042372677 rtms@sbgh.mb.ca

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Logopenic Progressive Aphasia trials