Clinical trial Recruiting at 1 site Interventional Ages 50 to 90

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 typeInterventional
Ages50 Years to 90 Years
SexAll
Enrollment81 (estimated)
SponsorFujian Medical University Union Hospital
Academic / other
Locations1 site (Fuzhou, Fujian)
StatusRecruiting
StartedApril 16, 2025
Main results expectedApril 30, 2029
Study endsApril 30, 2029
Registry record updatedAugust 31, 2026
Trial IDNCT07324161 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

  • rTMS
    Fuzhou, Fujian, China
    Recruiting

Study contacts

Similar studies

Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.

How to take part

  1. Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
  2. Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
  3. Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.
Last reviewed 2026-11-14 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.