Magnetic brain stimulation for Alzheimer's disease
Official title: Efficacy and Safety of Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease and Exploration of Glymphatic Mechanisms
Run by Fujian Medical University Union Hospital · NCT07324161 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This trial will test whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can help people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 50 Years to 90 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 81 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Fujian Medical University Union Hospital Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Fuzhou, Fujian) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 16, 2025 |
| Main results expected | April 30, 2029 |
| Study ends | April 30, 2029 |
| Registry record updated | August 31, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT07324161 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates are people with mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease (CDR 1–2) who meet 2018 NIA‑AA and DSM‑5 criteria and have positive amyloid or other AD biomarkers, and who have no contraindications to rTMS.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients with severe Alzheimer's disease, a history of epilepsy, major contraindications to rTMS, or non‑AD dementias are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
The trial compares active rTMS with a sham rTMS procedure in people who have biomarker-confirmed mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease. Clinical efficacy and safety will be tracked using cognitive measures and monitoring for adverse events. TMS-EEG and functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) will be recorded to probe synaptic plasticity and neurovascular coupling. The study aims to connect any clinical changes to mechanistic signals related to glymphatic regulation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, rTMS could offer a noninvasive treatment option that improves symptoms or slows decline and sheds light on how brain clearance systems affect Alzheimer's.
How similar studies have gone: Previous small rTMS trials in dementia have shown mixed but sometimes modest cognitive benefits, while using TMS-EEG, fNIRS and glymphatic-focused measures together is a relatively novel approach.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Meets the 2018 NIA-AA diagnostic criteria for Alzheimer's disease (AD) * Meets DSM-5 diagnostic criteria * Mild to moderate disease severity (CDR Global Score 1 to 2) * Evidence of AD pathology: positive amyloid PET OR positive cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) AD biomarkers OR positive plasma AD biomarkers Exclusion Criteria: * Contraindications to rTMS treatment * Severe complications or immune diseases * Unable to cooperate with study procedures * History of epilepsy
Where it's running
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rTMS
Fuzhou, Fujian, China Recruiting
Study contacts
- Study coordinator: Xiaodong Pan
- Email: panxd@fjmu.edu.cn
- Phone: 13395080173
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.