Recruiting

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Sponsor:

Oregon Health and Science University

Code:

NCT04468932

Conditions

Palsy Supranuclear

Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 40 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Study Details

Brief summary:

The objective of this proposal is to investigate the effect of non-invasive repetitive cerebellar transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) on motor control in progressive supranuclear (PSP). The central hypothesis is that augmenting cerebellar inhibition via cerebellar rTMS will decrease postural instability in patients with PSP. We will use functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine changes in motor and premotor cortical activity after cerebellar rTMS.

Conditions

Palsy Supranuclear

Supranuclear Palsy, Progressive

Study ID

NCT04468932

Start date

Jan 17, 2020

Status verified date

Oct, 2026

Completion date

Oct, 2027

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Apr, 2027

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 40 - 70+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • probable or possible PSP by the revised MDS PSP Criteria (Hoglinger 2017)
  • age 40-85 at time of screening
  • ability to understand and cooperate with simple instructions in English
  • ability to read at 6th grade reading level in English
  • ability to stand unassisted for at least 30 seconds and to be able walk independently with a walker
  • ability to refrain from new physical and speech therapy programs for the duration of the study
  • ability to remain on stable doses of any cholinergic, dopaminergic, serotonergic sedative or NMDA receptor antagonists for the duration of the study
  • females of child-bearing age must perform a urine pregnancy test and be on reliable birth control during the course of the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • other significant neurological or vestibular disorders
  • presence of electrically, magnetically or mechanically activated implants or history of injurious metal exposure in eyes, head, or body

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Allocation

Randomized

Intervention Model

Crossover

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Active TMS first

After completing their baseline assessment, participants randomized to this arm will initially take part in a 2-week TMS intervention. After the midpoint assessment and subsequent a 1-month washout, these participants will then complete a 2-week sham TMS period prior to their final assessment.

experimental: Sham treatment first

After completing their baseline assessment, participants randomized to this arm will initially take part in a 2-week sham TMS period. After the midpoint assessment and subsequent a 1-month washout, these participants will then complete a 2-week TMS intervention prior to their final assessment.

Interventions

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)

Aim 1: To determine the clinical effects of rTMS targeting the cerebellum on postural instability in PSP. The hypothesis to be tested is that TMS augmentation of cerebellar inhibition will improve cerebellum-dependent balance symptoms of PSP for a period of time sufficient to improve rehabilitation outcomes. The investigators will measure a battery of objective posturography metrics and other measures of motor control, including sway and center of pressure changes to backward tilt and forward translation.

Aim 2: We will use functional near infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to examine changes in motor and premotor cortical activity after cerebellar rTMS. The hypothesis to be tested is that premotor and motor cortical activity will decrease after cerebellar rTMS compared to sham TMS, reflecting improved cerebellar inhibition of the motor cortex after the intervention.

Primary outcome measure

  • objective posturography [ Time Frame: assessed on 4 days during the 8 week study period ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Graham Harker

5034182601balance@ohsu.edu

Locations

Oregon Health & Science University

Recruiting

Portland, Oregon, United States, 97239

Contacts

Graham Harker

503-418-2601balance@ohsu.edu

More Information

Sponsor

Oregon Health and Science University

Last update posted

Oct 19, 2026

Last verified

Oct, 2026

Keywords

  • repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-10-24. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by Oregon Health and Science University on 2026-10-19. Recruitment status is synced daily from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the sponsor's current status. Confirm during your call.