Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation to improve post-surgery thinking and memory in older adults

Is this trial a fit for you?

A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.

What this trial studies

The trial enrolls patients aged 65 and older with preoperative mild-to-moderate cognitive impairment (MoCA >9 and <26) who are scheduled for elective non-cardiac surgery expected to last more than two hours and require at least a five-day hospital stay. Participants are randomized to receive perioperative rTMS targeted to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex or a sham stimulation control. Cognitive outcomes of interest include rates of delayed neurocognitive recovery (DNR) and postoperative neurocognitive disorder (POCD) measured after surgery. The design compares active neural stimulation versus placebo-like sham to see if rTMS reduces early and later postoperative cognitive decline.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Aged ≥65 years;
2. Patients with preoperative mild to moderate cognitive impairment, defined as 9\<Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)\<26;
3. Scheduled for elective non-cardiac surgery under general anesthesia, with an expected surgical duration of \>2 hours;
4. Expected to stay in hospital for at least 5 days after surgery.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Left-handed;
2. Primary school education level or below;
3. Comorbid diseases including mental illness, intellectual disability, auditory and visual dysfunction, language impairment, severe neurological disorders, or other diseases that impede the completion of evaluation;
4. Neurosurgery;
5. Presence of contraindications to rTMS treatment, including epilepsy, pregnant or lactating women, or with a metal or electric implanted device (e.g., deep brain stimulator, ventriculoperitoneal shunt, aneurysm clip, pacemaker, cochlear implant, or surgical staples on the scalp);
6. Other situations that are deemed unsuitable for inclusion in the study.

Where it's running

• Peking University First Hospital
  Beijing, Beijing Municipality, China Recruiting
• Peking University Shenzhen Hospital
  Shenzhen, Guangzhou, China Not yet recruiting
• Xijing Hospital, Air Force Medical University
  Xi'an, Shannxi, China Not yet recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Dong-Xin Wang, MD, PhD — Peking University First Hospital
• Study coordinator: Dong-Xin Wang, MD, PhD
• Email: wangdongxin@hotmail.com
• Phone: 8610 83572784

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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.