Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable

Individualized Magnetic Stimulation for Post-stroke Cognitive Recovery: Optimization, Validation & Efficacy

25 participantsStarted 2025-11-01

Plain-language summary

Rationale: 75% of all stroke survivors suffer from cognitive deficits in the acute phase, with serious implications for their long-term quality of life and societal participation. A promising novel therapy is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Only a handful of studies have attempted to promote cognitive functioning after stroke with rTMS. These studies exclusively used a one-size-fits-all approach, which had limited success, as post-stroke cognitive deficits are highly variable. We propose a two-step personalized treatment strategy to identify targets for therapeutic TMS for cognitive rehabilitation after stroke. Step one consits of identification of personalized TMS targets by measuring fMRI activity during a representative cognitive task. In step two, TMS disruption is used to temporarily disrupt activity in the targeted brain region to investigate causal involvement of a brain area in cognitive task performance. Objective: To validate a proof-of-concept to identify personalized targets for therapeutic TMS for cognitive rehabilitation after stroke. Study design: A prospective mechanistic intervention study. Study population: 10 healthy individuals and 15 stroke patients with cognitive impairment Intervention: Active and sham TMS disruption of personalized targets Main study endpoints: The n-back test

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

. Age ≥ 18 years;
. First-ever ischemic stroke or intracerebral haemorrhage in a cerebral hemisphere or the brainstem;
. Cognitive impairment based on assessment by the treating rehabilitation physician.
. Able to perform n-back task at inclusion.
. Inclusion possible within 10 weeks after stroke onset;
. Signed informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

. Known cognitive impairment prior to stroke onset;

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 n-back test performance

Timeframe: during TMS disruption

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07150169

SponsorJord Vink

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2027-10-01

Contact for this trial

Jord Vink, PhD

+31302535521 j.j.vink-5@umcutrecht.nl

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Stroke trials