Recruiting

TMS

Sponsor:

McMaster University

Code:

NCT07673770

Conditions

Dementia

Alzheimer s Disease

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 55+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Interventions

EEG-triggered TMS

Study Details

Brief summary:

Working memory helps us hold information for a short time so one can think and make decisions. It keeps thoughts on track. As one gets older, working memory gets weaker. In people with dementia, it gets much worse, making it harder to talk with others, follow directions, or remember things like shopping lists.

This may happen because brain waves that support working memory fall out of sync. Researchers can see these brain waves using a test called EEG. In this study, the investigators will try to get these brain waves back in sync using a safe, non-invasive form of brain stimulation called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), and will time it to each person's brain waves to make it more effective. The goal is to improve working memory in people with dementia. If successful, dementia patients may be able to be more independent taking pressure off their families.

Conditions

Dementia

Alzheimer s Disease

Study ID

NCT07673770

Start date

Jul 7, 2026

Status verified date

Jul, 2026

Completion date

Aug 1, 2028

Anticipated

Primary completion date

Apr 1, 2028

Anticipated

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

Sex: All

Age: 55+

Healthy Volunteers: Not accepted

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals must be diagnosed with Alzheimer's Disease or related dementias by a clinician.
  • Individuals must exhibit adequate oral communication skills and cognitive function sufficient to obtain a score above 10 on the MMSE
  • Instructions will be delivered in English; therefore participants must demonstrate an understanding of instruction provided in English.
  • Individuals must be at least 55 years or older

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Contraindications to TMS; presence of a pacemaker, metal/electrical/magnetic implants not including titanium, known history of untreated or uncontrolled psychological disorders, pregnancy, history of seizure or diagnoses of epilepsy, are taking any prescription medications that increase the risk of seizure.
  • Allergy to rubbing alcohol, which is needed to prepare electromyography for TMS

Study Design

Enrollment

30 participants

Anticipated

Intervention Model

Single group

Primary purpose

Treatment

Interventions and Outcome Measures

Arms

experimental: Intervention: EEG-triggered TMS

The electroencephalography (EEG) triggered transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) arm involves receiving TMS timed to particular phases of EEG involved in working memory. TMS involves the delivery of brief current to the part of the brain that is involved in working memory. EEG involves placing 32 electrodes on the surface of then head and reading the brain's waves in real-time. TMS will be delivered to the part of the brain involved in working memory timed to EEG recorded brain waves

Interventions

EEG-triggered TMS

This intervention involves delivering transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (dlPFC) during working memory maintence timed to a specific electroencephalography (EEG) phase from the temporal cortex. The intervention is attempting to facilitate improved communication between the dlPFC and temporal cortex to improve working memory in people living with dementia.

Primary outcome measure

  • Forward digit span [ Time Frame: Immediately before, immediately after the 2 week intervention, 1 month and 4 months after the intervention period. ]
  • Reverse digit span [ Time Frame: Immediately before, immediately after the 2 week intervention, 1 month and 4 months after the intervention period. ]
  • Sentence span [ Time Frame: Immediately before, immediately after the 2 week intervention, 1 month and 4 months after the intervention period. ]
  • Grocery list task [ Time Frame: Immediately before, immediately after the 2 week intervention, 1 month and 4 months after the intervention period. ]
  • Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score [ Time Frame: Immediately before, immediately after the 2 week intervention, 1 month and 4 months after the intervention period. ]
  • Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores [ Time Frame: Immediately before, immediately after the 2 week intervention, 1 month and 4 months after the intervention period. ]

Central Contacts and Locations

Central contacts

Aimee Nelson

(905) 525-9140nelsonaj@mcmaster.ca

Ameer Hamoodi

hamoodia@mcmaster.ca

Locations

Ivor Wynne Center

Recruiting

Hamilton, Ontario, Canada, L8S 4L8

Contacts

Aimee Nleson, PhD

9055259140 Ext. 28053nelsonaj@mcmaster.ca

More Information

Sponsor

McMaster University

Last update posted

Jul 7, 2026

Last verified

Jul, 2026

Keywords

  • Dementia
  • Alzheimer's Disease
  • transcranial magnetic stimulation
  • eeg
  • electroencephalography

Trial information was received from ClinicalTrials.gov and was last updated on 2026-09-10. This information was provided to ClinicalTrials.gov by McMaster University on 2026-07-07.