Using MRI to guide brain stimulation for memory improvement

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

This interventional study aims to develop a personalized approach to enhance brain activity using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) guided by MRI and EEG. Participants will undergo MRI scans to identify specific brain areas for stimulation, and TMS will be applied to modulate activity in these regions. The study will involve multiple visits to Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, where participants will be screened and assessed for eligibility. The goal is to improve the effectiveness of TMS in individuals with mild cognitive impairment and healthy participants.

Why it matters

Who can join: the full rules

Inclusion Criteria for Healthy participants:

* Ages between 18 and 65 years;
* Healthy with no history of neurological impairment;
* Normal or correct-to-normal vision.

Inclusion Criteria for aMCI patients:

* Age 50-80 years;
* MCI clinical criteria: (a) self- or informant-reported cognitive complaint; (b) preserved independence in functional abilities; and (c) absence of dementia;
* Objective cognitive impairment supported by the following measures of general cognitive function: (a) Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) 24-27 (inclusive); (b) Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) 18-26 (inclusive); or (c) Clinical Dementia Rating Scale score of 0.5;
* Normal or correct-to-normal vision.

Exclusion Criteria for all participants:

* Women who are pregnant or breastfeeding;
* History of seizure (childhood febrile seizures are acceptable and these subjects may be included in the study), history of epilepsy in self or first degree relatives, stroke, brain tumor, brain surgery, head injury, known structural brain lesion;
* Have metal in the eye or skull area, brain stimulator, surgical metal, clips in the brain, cochlear implants, mental fragments in the eye, as these make TMS unsafe;
* Have non-MRI compatible metal in the body, for example metallic (forromagnetic) implants (e.g., cardiac pacemaker, aneurysm clip);
* Subjects who are uncomfortable in small closed spaces (have claustrophobia), unable to lie comfortably supine for up to 1 hour, and would feel uncomfortable in the MRI machine;
* Participation in any other study involving non-invasive brain stimulation less than two weeks ago;
* Abnormal findings on neurological examination that we will perform.

Where it's running

• Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
  Toronto, Ontario, Canada Recruiting

Study contacts

• Principal investigator: Fa-Hsuan Lin, PhD — Sunnybrook Research Institute
• Study coordinator: Fa-Hsuan Lin, PhD
• Email: fhlin@sri.utoronto.ca
• Phone: 416-480-6100

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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.