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Accelerated rTMS for Apathy in Parkinson's Disease

Who can join

As published by the study on ClinicalTrials.gov. "Not stated" means the study hasn't said — ask the study team.

Age
45 Years to 85 Years
Sex
All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Not accepted
Compensation
Not stated

Other requirements are listed under Eligibility below. Only the study team can confirm whether you can join.

What to expect

No one can promise a trial will help you personally — that is what the research is trying to find out.

What participation involves

  • Visits mentioned: 6 visits
  • Time periods mentioned: 2 weeks

Only what the study's summary and detailed description on ClinicalTrials.gov say. Time periods may describe the whole study or a part of it — ask the study team what applies to you.

Show the study's own words
  • "Fifteen participants with PD and clinically significant apathy will undergo six treatment visits over two weeks, receiving eight iTBS sessions per day."
Compensation
Not stated
  • Study-related exams and procedures are typically provided at no cost. This is how many trials work in general — confirm the details for this study with the study team.
  • Participants are monitored closely by the research team throughout the study.
  • Some participants may receive access to an investigational treatment, which is still being studied.
  • Your participation helps researchers learn whether this approach could help future patients.

About this study

In plain language

This study tests a type of magnetic brain stimulation called iTBS for people with Parkinson’s disease and apathy, or low interest and motivation. It will check whether treatment is practical, how well people handle it, and whether it may help. Participants will have six treatment visits over two weeks, with eight stimulation sessions each day.

This single-site, open-label pilot study will evaluate the feasibility, tolerability, and preliminary efficacy of accelerated intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) targeting the dorsomedial prefrontal cortex (dmPFC) for apathy in individuals with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Fifteen participants with PD and clinically significant apathy will undergo six treatment visits over two weeks, receiving eight iTBS sessions per day. Outcomes include adherence, tolerability, changes in apathy (Lille Apathy Rating Scale), functional engagement, and neural target engagement assessed via resting-state fMRI and EEG. Follow-up assessments will occur at two and four weeks post-treatment.

Compensation is read from the study's own description and may be missing — always confirm with the study team.

Eligibility

Who can join

  • Be 45 to 85 years old.
  • Have Parkinson’s disease.
  • Score 37 or higher on the Apathy Evaluation Scale (AES), which measures low interest and motivation.
  • Be on stable Parkinson’s medicines.
  • Have a caregiver available to share information about you.

Who can't join

  • Have a condition or other reason that makes MRI scans or magnetic brain stimulation (TMS) unsafe.
  • Have severe problems with thinking or memory, with a score below 21 on the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).
  • Have bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, or an active substance use disorder.
  • Have a history of seizures.
  • Have a current, urgent risk of suicide based on a suicide risk assessment, or have attempted suicide in the past year.
  • Be pregnant.

Simplified for readability. The official criteria below are what the study team uses.

Official eligibility criteria

Inclusion Criteria: * Age 45-85 * Diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease * AES ≥37 * Stable PD medications * Caregiver informant available Exclusion Criteria: * MRI/TMS contraindications * Severe cognitive impairment (MoCA \<21) * Psychiatric disorders (bipolar, schizophrenia, active substance use disorder) * Seizure history * Acute suicidality as assessed by the Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale (C-SSRS) or suicide attempt in the previous year * Pregnancy

Study sites (1)

SC