Effects of Accelerated rTMS On Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease (NCT07554833) | Clinical Trial Compass
RecruitingNot Applicable
Effects of Accelerated rTMS On Motor and Cognitive Function in Parkinson's Disease
United States40 participantsStarted 2026-06-03
Plain-language summary
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a brain disorder that causes progressive problems with movement, such as slowness, stiffness, tremor, and difficulty walking. Many people with PD also develop problems with thinking and memory. Current medications can help control movement symptoms but often become less effective over time and may cause side effects. There is a need for additional treatment options that can address both movement and thinking difficulties in PD.
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive treatment that uses magnetic pulses delivered to the scalp to stimulate specific areas of the brain. Previous research has shown that rTMS targeting the motor cortex (the part of the brain that controls movement) can improve motor symptoms in people with PD.
The purpose of this pilot study is to evaluate whether an accelerated course of rTMS targeting the motor cortex can improve movement and thinking abilities in people with mild to moderate Parkinson's disease. The study will enroll 40 participants aged 50 to 90 years at the San Francisco Neurology and Sleep Center.
Participants will receive 6 sessions of rTMS using the EXOMIND™ device, administered twice per week over approximately 3 weeks. Each session delivers high-frequency magnetic stimulation to the motor cortex on both sides of the brain. Participants will be assessed before treatment, at the last treatment session, and at 1-month and 3-month follow-up visits.
The primary outcome measure is the change in motor symptoms as measured by the Movement Disorder Society Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (MDS-UPDRS-III) at 1 month after treatment. Secondary outcomes include additional measures of walking and gait, domain-specific cognitive testing using the Creyos cognitive battery (assessing memory, attention, reasoning, and other thinking skills), the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), depression symptoms (PHQ-9), and quality of life (PDQ-39).
This is a single-center, open-label study with no placebo or control group. Total participation duration is up to 139 days, including screening, treatment, and follow-up visits.
Who can participate
Age range
50 Years – 90 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:
* Subject must be 50 to 90 years of age, inclusive, on the day of signing informed consent.
* Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson's disease according to the Movement Disorder Society Clinical Diagnostic Criteria or UK Parkinson's Disease Society Brain Bank criteria.
* Hoehn and Yahr stage 1-3 (mild to moderate disease severity).
* MDS-UPDRS-III (Motor Examination) score ≥10 at screening.
* Stable doses of anti-parkinsonian medications (including levodopa, dopamine agonists, MAO-B inhibitors, COMT inhibitors, amantadine) for at least 4 weeks prior to screening, with no anticipated changes during the study period.
* Ability to provide written informed consent.
* Subject must sign an ICF indicating that he or she understands the purpose of, and procedures required for, the study and is willing to participate in the study.
* Sufficient visual and auditory acuity to complete motor and cognitive assessments.
* Availability and willingness to complete all scheduled study visits.
* Presence of a reliable study partner or caregiver who can provide information about the participant's motor, cognitive, and functional status.
* Ability to determine the motor threshold of the participant. The participant's motor threshold could be established as the minimum stimulus required to induce contraction of the contralateral hand muscles.
* Subjects willing and able to abstain from partaking in any treatments other than the study procedure for the improvement in motor or cognit…
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.
1This trial uses something called 'accelerated rTMS' — can you explain how this type of brain stimulation works, and how the accelerated schedule is different from standard rTMS approaches that already exist for Parkinson's?
2The trial is listed as Phase NA, which I understand often means it's a non-drug or device study rather than a traditional drug trial — does that change what we know about the safety profile, and are there any known risks specific to repetitive TMS that I should be aware of?
3The main thing being measured is motor function using the MDS-UPDRS-III scale at one month after treatment — does that mean we wouldn't have data on whether any benefit lasts longer than a month, and how does that affect whether this might be right for me?
4Given where I am in my Parkinson's progression, do you think my current motor and cognitive symptoms are a reasonable fit for what this trial seems to be targeting, or would standard medication adjustments be a better first step?
5What would participating actually look like week to week — how many sessions would I need to attend, how long does 'accelerated' rTMS typically take per session, and is that something that's realistic given my daily situation?
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
1
Change from baseline in the Movement Disorder Society-Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale Part III (MDS-UPDRS-III) score at 1-month follow-up