Condition

Apathy clinical trials and research

• 15Clinical trials
• 12NIH research projects
• 9Countries

Newest Apathy clinical trials

All recruiting trials (15)

• IRL757 for treating apathy in Parkinson's disease.

  This study will test whether the medication IRL757 is safe, easy to tolerate, and helps reduce apathy in people aged 50–90 with Parkinson's disease.

  Recruiting at 12 sites Phase 1/2 Integrative Research Laboratories AB · Pleven and 13 other locations · NCT07461220

• Robotic technologies to reduce apathy in dementia

  This project will test whether two different home-based robotic programs can help people with mild cognitive impairment or dementia who have apathy become more motivated and engaged compared with standard occupational therapy.

  Recruiting at 2 sites University of Modena and Reggio Emilia · Milan, Italy and 1 other locations · NCT07404410

• Accelerated brain stimulation for apathy in Parkinson's disease

  This pilot will see if an accelerated form of intermittent theta-burst brain stimulation can reduce apathy in people with Parkinson's disease.

  Recruiting Medical University of South Carolina · Charleston, South Carolina · NCT07399496

• Brain stimulation plus methylphenidate for apathy in Alzheimer's

  This trial will test whether combining short sessions of noninvasive brain stimulation (intermittent theta burst) with methylphenidate can reduce apathy in people with Alzheimer's disease or mixed Alzheimer's/vascular dementia.

  Recruiting Phase 2 Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre · Toronto, Ontario · NCT07279740

• Personalized digital reminiscence therapy for older adults with mild neurocognitive disorders

  This project will test whether daily personalized digital reminiscence sessions delivered by a conversational agent can help older adults with mild neurocognitive disorders who have apathy or mild depression.

  Recruiting at 4 sites KompanionCare SAS · Angers and 4 other locations · NCT07237009

• Esketamine nasal spray for people with treatment-resistant depression in routine care

  This study will try esketamine nasal spray in adults with treatment-resistant depression to see how well it works and how safe it is in everyday clinical settings.

  Recruiting at 5 sites Universita degli Studi di Genova · Genova, Ge and 4 other locations · NCT07146503

• Respiratory-gated auricular vagus nerve stimulation for apathy in Parkinson's disease

  This trial will test whether 100 Hz respiratory-gated transcutaneous auricular vagus nerve stimulation can reduce apathy in people with Parkinson's disease.

  Recruiting Anhui Medical University · Hefei, Anhui · NCT07118956

• Accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) versus sham for post-stroke apathy

  This project will try a faster course of rTMS to see if it reduces persistent apathy in people at least six months after an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

  Recruiting Phase 1/2 Medical University of South Carolina · Charleston, South Carolina · NCT07113067

• Virtual Life Story Club to reduce loneliness and apathy in older adults

  This project will try weekly virtual Life Story Club reminiscence sessions for 12 weeks to see if they reduce loneliness and apathy in community-dwelling adults aged 60 and older without dementia.

  Recruiting Montefiore Medical Center · The Bronx, New York · NCT06919094

• Identifying markers of apathy in elderly patients with bipolar disorder

  This study is trying to find signs of apathy in older adults with bipolar disorder to see if they are at risk for memory problems and dementia.

  Recruiting Hospital Center Guillaume Régnier · Rennes, Ile Et Vilaine · NCT06914284

• Using Lumateperone to improve motivation in patients with schizophrenia and psychosis

  This study is testing if Lumateperone can help people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorders feel more motivated and less apathetic.

  Recruiting Phase 3 Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center Shreveport · Shreveport, Louisiana · NCT06482554

• Digital brain training to reduce apathy in late‑life depression

  This trial will test whether a customized 4-week digital cognitive training program can change brain connectivity and reduce apathy in people aged 60 and older with major depressive disorder.

  Recruiting AdventHealth · Orlando, Florida · NCT05877885

• Using music to reduce apathy in Parkinson's Disease

  This study tests whether listening to music can help reduce feelings of apathy in people with Parkinson's Disease.

  Recruiting University of British Columbia · Vancouver, British Columbia · NCT05505019

• Understanding Apathy in Psychiatric Conditions

  This study is trying to understand the different types of apathy in people with conditions like schizophrenia and depression by looking at their brain activity while they do tasks.

  Recruiting University Hospital, Strasbourg, France · Strasbourg · NCT04757220

• A look at how cholinergic and dopaminergic systems may contribute to apathy after stroke

  This study tests whether imaging biomarkers of cholinergic and dopaminergic brain systems differ in apathetic stroke patients compared to non-apathetic patients.

  Recruiting Phase 3 University Hospital, Bordeaux · Bordeaux · NCT03998852

NIH-funded research (12)

Early-stage science funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Most of these projects don't enroll patients, but they show what is being worked on.

• Mobility and motivation after stroke: how apathy affects walking and daily movement

  A study exploring how post-stroke apathy might limit daily mobility and walking, beyond just physical impairments.

  NIH research University of Southern California · Los Angeles, UNITED STATES · NIH-11369044

• Understanding how the immune system relates to mood symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease

  A doctor-scientist will study how immune system signals in people with Alzheimer’s relate to mood problems like depression, anxiety, and apathy to find new ways to help patients.

  NIH research University of Washington · Seattle, United States · NIH-11226377

• Apathy in frontotemporal dementia: causes and effects

  This project looks at how problems with motivation, planning, and getting started affect people with behavioral variant frontotemporal degeneration and how those problems link to brain network changes.

  NIH research University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-11137080

• Understanding brain causes of apathy in Alzheimer's and related dementias using brain imaging and stimulation

  This project will learn whether brain shrinkage and activity explain apathy in people with Alzheimer's and related dementias and whether targeted brain stimulation can quickly change motivation in Parkinson's patients getting DBS.

  NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-11135348

• Improving motivation in older adults with depression using digital tools

  This study is looking for older adults with late-life depression who feel unmotivated, to see if special online brain exercises can help boost their motivation and improve their overall mental health.

  NIH research Adventhealth Orlando · Orlando, United States · NIH-11086146

• Investigating the role of brain cells in apathy for Huntington's disease

  This study is looking at how certain brain cells might be linked to feelings of apathy in people with Huntington's disease, with the hope of finding new ways to help improve motivation and daily life for those affected.

  NIH research University of Minnesota · Minneapolis, United States · NIH-11053596

• Understanding the brain changes related to apathy in Alzheimer's disease

  This study is looking at how feelings of apathy in people with Alzheimer's are connected to changes in the brain, using special imaging to see how certain proteins are affecting motivation and behavior, with the hope of finding better ways to help manage these feelings.

  NIH research Massachusetts General Hospital · Boston, United States · NIH-10993677

• Understanding the brain's role in apathy for Alzheimer's and related dementias

  This study is looking at how changes in certain parts of the brain might cause feelings of apathy in people with Alzheimer's or Parkinson's disease, and it aims to help us understand what affects their motivation and ability to pursue goals.

  NIH research Baylor College of Medicine · Houston, United States · NIH-10911804

• Using non-invasive brain stimulation to treat apathy

  This study is looking at a safe way to use brain stimulation to help boost motivation and thinking skills in people with conditions like Parkinson's disease who often feel apathetic, with the hope of making their lives better.

  NIH research Univ of North Carolina Chapel Hill · Chapel Hill, United States · NIH-10889273

• Understanding the causes and effects of apathy in Alzheimer's disease and related disorders

  This study is looking at how apathy, which is a lack of motivation and interest, affects daily activities in people with Alzheimer's and similar conditions, and it aims to understand how different parts of the brain are involved in this feeling.

  NIH research University of Pennsylvania · Philadelphia, United States · NIH-10889229

• Improving motivation in older adults through diet and exercise

  This study is looking at how a special diet with whole soybean pods and exercise can help older adults who are overweight and have insulin resistance feel more motivated and engaged in their daily lives.

  NIH research Lsu Pennington Biomedical Research Ctr · Baton Rouge, United States · NIH-10848448

• Investigating the links between apathy and brain health in middle-aged individuals at risk for dementia

  This study is looking at how feelings of apathy, or lack of interest, might connect to thinking skills and brain health in middle-aged people who are at higher risk for Alzheimer's disease, and it involves 500 healthy participants sharing their experiences to help find early signs of changes in the brain related to dem

  NIH research Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences · Newark, UNITED STATES · NIH-10792946

Related topics

Quick answers

How many Apathy clinical trials are recruiting right now?

15, as of November 12, 2026. We update this list each time we refresh our data from ClinicalTrials.gov.

Where are these trials running?

In 9 countries. The most sites are in United States (5 trials), France (4 trials), Italy (2 trials), Canada (2 trials), Bulgaria (1 trial). Each study page lists its sites and which ones are recruiting.

What phases are they in?

Phase 3: 2, Phase 1/2: 2, Phase 2: 1. Trials with no phase listed are usually device, behavioural or observational studies.

How do I join one?

Open a study, check the "Is this trial a fit for you?" section, then contact the study team listed on the page. They will ask a few screening questions. Asking is free and does not commit you to anything. Talk it over with your doctor first.

Find the studies that fit you

A list is a starting point. Tell us your situation in your own words and we'll rank the studies that match and explain why. It's free and needs no account.

Describe your situation →