Combining rTMS and aerobic exercise to help post-stroke depression and walking
Official title: Combining rTMS & aerobic exercise to treat depression and improve post-stroke walking (RESTORATION)
Funded at Medical University of South Carolina · NIH-11402238 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A new approach tests whether adding aerobic exercise to rTMS can reduce depression after stroke and improve walking.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Medical University of South Carolina NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Charleston, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | August 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $657,058 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HD113299-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11402238 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults who have had a stroke and experience post-stroke depression and are eligible for rehabilitation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without post-stroke depression or those unable to participate in aerobic exercise or rTMS may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project will enroll people who have had a stroke and experience depression to see if two proven treatments— aerobic exercise and repetitive TMS—work better together than either alone. Researchers will examine how the combination affects mood and whether reducing depression helps patients participate in and benefit from rehab that targets walking and movement. The study will also explore if aerobic exercise makes rTMS more effective and whether mood improvements translate into better functional recovery after stroke. Participants will follow a structured exercise program and receive rTMS sessions over a defined period, with assessments of mood and motor function.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with post-stroke depression could experience less depressive symptoms and greater gains in walking and rehabilitation.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work shows both aerobic exercise and rTMS can help depression, but their combined effect in post-stroke patients is being tested here.
Where this research is happening
-
Medical University of South Carolina
Charleston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Gregory, Chris — Medical University of South Carolina
- Study coordinator: Gregory, Chris
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
rTMS plus aerobic exercise for post‑stroke depression and walking recovery
This project combines repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with aerobic exercise to try to reduce depression and improve walking for people after a stroke.
-
Using exercise and brain stimulation to help people with depression after a stroke
This study is looking at whether doing aerobic exercise along with a special treatment called rTMS can help people who are feeling depressed after a stroke feel better and recover more effectively.
-
Aerobic exercise to boost stroke rehabilitation outcomes with a VR game
A VA-based study tests whether an aerobic workout before a hand-rehabilitation game can improve recovery after stroke for veterans.
-
Understanding why post-stroke depression happens in older mice
A study in aged mice investigates how stroke can lead to depression and what biological changes drive it, with a focus on the roles of oxytocin and taurine.
-
How aerobic exercise may help brain health and thinking after late-life depression
This work looks at whether regular aerobic exercise can improve brain health and thinking in older adults who have recovered from late-life depression.
-
Understanding Depression After Stroke
This project explores how depression develops after a stroke, especially in older individuals, by looking at brain changes and potential protective factors.
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.