Transcranial Static Field Stimulation (tSMS) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for the Treatment of Neurological Symptoms. (NIBS-tSMS/tDCS)

March 22, 2025 updated by: Diego Centonze, Neuromed IRCCS

Transcranial Static Field Stimulation (tSMS) and Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) for the Treatment of Neurological Symptoms

The presence of damage to the central and/or peripheral nervous system resulting from various pathologies, such as Multiple Sclerosis (MS), Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), dementia, traumatic brain injury (TBI), stroke, or other neurological syndromes, is commonly a cause of both physical and mental disability. This leads to symptoms in the patient, including: pain, migraines, headaches, neuropathic pain, trigeminal neuralgia, depression, anxiety, apathy, fatigue, cognitive decline, aphasia, functional motor disorders (FMD), neuromuscular tone alterations, and hyposthenia, in addition to involvement of various cognitive functions, such as decision-making, problem-solving, learning, memory, executive functions, social cognition, and emotional cognition. The presence of these neurological symptoms is often evident in a first clinical examination and is one of the main reasons for further healthcare consultations. These difficulties have a profound impact on the quality of life, affecting work, social, and family functioning.

In recent years, several non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) techniques have emerged, aimed at eliciting brain neural networks, such as transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) and transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS).

tSMS is an NIBS technique that involves the application of a neodymium magnet on the scalp. Since the first study proposing this method, several others have confirmed that tSMS can reduce corticospinal excitability. tDCS involves the application of weak electrical currents capable of generating an electric field that can modulate neural activity in an excitatory or inhibitory manner. NIBS techniques can be used experimentally to modulate cortical activity.

The primary aim of this proposal is to address the impact of neurological symptoms through the combination of tSMS with tDCS and rehabilitation techniques. Specifically, it aims to understand whether the combination of these neuromodulatory therapeutic NIBS methods can enhance symptom improvement in patients with neurological conditions.

To assess the impact of this intervention, a series of tests and questionnaires, described in detail below, will be used to evaluate the severity of the reported symptoms and secondary outcomes.

Moreover, the contribution of specific brain areas to the symptom will be evaluated through the direct modulation of brain activity. This modulation will be achieved using an additional NIBS technique, such as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS). TMS, in particular, is a non-invasive method for stimulating neurons in the brain's superficial areas, which has been frequently used in neurology as a diagnostic and research tool since its introduction. TMS uses magnetic fields to induce electrical currents capable of facilitating or inhibiting cortical activity.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Estimated)

40

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Contact

Study Locations

  • Italy
    • Isernia
      • Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy, 86077
        • Istituto Neurologico Mediterraneo IRCCS Neuromed
        • Contact:

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Males or females aged between 18 and 80 years;
  • Presence of a neurological disorder, specifically the following conditions will be considered: MS, ALS, PD, AD, Dementias, TBI, neurosurgical interventions, stroke, fibromyalgia, epilepsy, headache, migraine, with at least one of the following symptoms: pain, neuropathic pain, neuralgias, depression, anxiety, apathy, fatigue, cognitive decline, aphasia, functional motor disorders (FMD), neuromuscular tone alterations, hyposthenia, involvement of multiple cognitive functions (including decision-making, problem-solving, learning, memory, executive functions, social and emotional cognition);
  • Patients must be able to follow the protocol instructions for the duration of the study;
  • Be able to understand the purposes and risks of the study;
  • Be able to understand and provide written informed consent to the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Partial or total inability to understand or make decisions, inability to provide written informed consent for the study;
  • Patients with a history or presence of any unstable medical condition, such as neoplasms or infections;
  • Women with a positive pregnancy test at baseline or planning to become pregnant. Women who are breastfeeding or have given birth within the last three months prior to the start of the study;
  • Use of medications that increase the risk of seizures (e.g., Fampridine, 4-aminopyridine);
  • Concurrent use of medications that may alter synaptic transmission and plasticity (L-dopa, antiepileptics);
  • In the case of using NIBS techniques, subjects should not have any contraindications specific to this method (for further details, see the "Methods" and the "Stimulation Assessment Questionnaire" attached to this proposal).

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Triple

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: tSMS real and tDCS real
  • Real transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS): will be used to perform the experimental intervention in combination with transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), with no interruption between the tSMS and tDCS. Expert personnel will administer 30-minute tSMS stimulations immediately before the tDCS stimulation. tSMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that involves the application of a neodymium magnet to the scalp. Since the first study introducing this method, several others have confirmed that tSMS can lead to a reduction in corticospinal excitability.
  • Real transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): This device will be used to perform the experimental intervention in combination with tSMS. tDCS stimulations, lasting 20 minutes, will be administered immediately following the tSMS stimulation. tDCS involves the application of weak electrical currents capable of generating an electric field that can modulate neural activity.
Combination product: transcranial static field stimulation (tSMS) and transcranial (tDCS)
  • tSMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that involves the application of a neodymium magnet to the scalp. Since the initial study introducing this method, numerous subsequent studies have confirmed that tSMS can lead to a reduction in corticospinal excitability.
  • Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that applies low-voltage electrical currents through surface electrodes on the scalp. Depending on the stimulation type (anodal or cathodal) tDCS can induce long-lasting increases or decreases in neuronal excitability and vascular-neuronal activity coupling. Cathodal stimulation leads to hyperpolarization and a reduction in excitability, whereas anodal stimulation induces depolarization and enhances excitability.
Active Comparator: tSMS real and tDCS sham
  • Real transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS): will be used to perform the experimental intervention in combination with transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS), with no interruption between the tSMS and tDCS. Expert personnel will administer 30-minute tSMS stimulations immediately before the tDCS stimulation. tSMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that involves the application of a neodymium magnet to the scalp. Since the first study introducing this method, several others have confirmed that tSMS can lead to a reduction in corticospinal excitability.
  • Sham transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): in the sham tDCS groups, the duration and electrodes application were the same to real tDCS, but the current was stopped 30 s thereafter. The subject felt the initial itching sensation, but no changes in cortical excitability are producedcapable of generating an electric field that can modulate neural activity.
Combination product: transcranial static field stimulation (tSMS) and transcranial (tDCS)
  • tSMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that involves the application of a neodymium magnet to the scalp. Since the initial study introducing this method, numerous subsequent studies have confirmed that tSMS can lead to a reduction in corticospinal excitability.
  • Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that applies low-voltage electrical currents through surface electrodes on the scalp. Depending on the stimulation type (anodal or cathodal) tDCS can induce long-lasting increases or decreases in neuronal excitability and vascular-neuronal activity coupling. Cathodal stimulation leads to hyperpolarization and a reduction in excitability, whereas anodal stimulation induces depolarization and enhances excitability.
Active Comparator: tSMS sham tDCS real
  • Sham transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS): in the sham tSMS groups, the duration and application of the device were the same as in the real tSMS, but the neodymium magnet is not placed at the location where it should be, and therefore, no actual stimulation occurs.
  • Real transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS): will be administered immediately following the sham tSMS. tDCS stimulations, lasting 20 minutes, will be administered immediately following the tSMS stimulation. tDCS involves the application of weak electrical currents capable of generating an electric field that can modulate neural activity.
Combination product: transcranial static field stimulation (tSMS) and transcranial (tDCS)
  • tSMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that involves the application of a neodymium magnet to the scalp. Since the initial study introducing this method, numerous subsequent studies have confirmed that tSMS can lead to a reduction in corticospinal excitability.
  • Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that applies low-voltage electrical currents through surface electrodes on the scalp. Depending on the stimulation type (anodal or cathodal) tDCS can induce long-lasting increases or decreases in neuronal excitability and vascular-neuronal activity coupling. Cathodal stimulation leads to hyperpolarization and a reduction in excitability, whereas anodal stimulation induces depolarization and enhances excitability.
Sham Comparator: tSMS sham tDCS sham
  • Sham transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS): in the sham tSMS groups, the duration and application of the device were the same as in the real tSMS, but the neodymium magnet is not placed at the location where it should be, and therefore, no actual stimulation occurs.
  • Sham transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS): in the sham tDCS groups, the duration and electrodes application were the same to real tDCS, but the current was stopped 30 s thereafter. The subject felt the initial itching sensation, but no changes in cortical excitability are producedcapable of generating an electric field that can modulate neural activity.
Combination product: transcranial static field stimulation (tSMS) and transcranial (tDCS)
  • tSMS is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that involves the application of a neodymium magnet to the scalp. Since the initial study introducing this method, numerous subsequent studies have confirmed that tSMS can lead to a reduction in corticospinal excitability.
  • Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technique that applies low-voltage electrical currents through surface electrodes on the scalp. Depending on the stimulation type (anodal or cathodal) tDCS can induce long-lasting increases or decreases in neuronal excitability and vascular-neuronal activity coupling. Cathodal stimulation leads to hyperpolarization and a reduction in excitability, whereas anodal stimulation induces depolarization and enhances excitability.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Visual Analogue Scale (VAS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one week
The VAS is a self-administered scale in which patients indicate the intensity of pain experienced by selecting a point on a continuous line ranging from 0 to 100 mm, representing the absence of pain to the worst pain, respectively.
Change from baseline at one week

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neurological clinical assessment through the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) is a clinician-administered assessment scale evaluating the functional systems of the central nervous system. The EDSS is used to describe disease progression in patients with multiple sclerosis MS and to assess the effectiveness of therapeutic interventions in clinical trials. It consists of ordinal rating system ranging from 0 (normal neurological status) to 10 (death due to MS) in 0.5 increments interval (when reaching EDSS 1).
Change from baseline at one month
Measurement of motor cortex plasticity through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
Measurement of motor cortex plasticity (iTBS) through transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The mean amplitudes of motor evoked potentials (MEP) will be recorded following iTBS, at each time point after iTBS (5, 15, and 30 minutes). The LTP-like effect will be expressed as percentage changes relative to the baseline MEPs.
Change from baseline at one month
Explore the effects of tSMS+tDCS treatment through the collection of biological material (blood and plasma)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The blood samples, immediately after collection, will undergo the necessary procedures for isolating the different components. These will then be used to analyze the levels of microRNA, cytokines, chemokines, cellular growth factors, markers of neuronal damage (tau, phosphorylated and truncated tau, neurofilaments), mitochondrial markers (lactate), and free d-amino acids. Genotyping studies will be conducted to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in coding and/or regulatory regions of genes (microRNA or protein) that correlate with specific clinical parameters and the levels of the identified potential biomarkers.
Change from baseline at one month
Brief Pain Inventory (BPI)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The Brief Pain Inventory (BPI) is a self-administered measure of the sensory and reactive dimensions of pain that is the severity or intensity of the pain and the level of interference it has on various aspects of life. Interference is divided into activity and affective sub-dimensions. The BPI starts with a screening question, asking about the presence of pain and a body chart is used to indicate painful regions as well as the worst region. These items have not been evaluated. This is followed by the core BPI items: the rating scales for pain severity and interference. Numerical rating scales from 0 to 10 are used for all items. The anchors for pain severity scales are 0 = 'no pain' and 10 = 'pain as bad as you can imagine', whilst the interference anchors are 0 = 'no interference' and 10 = 'interferes completely'.
Change from baseline at one month
Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month

The Zung Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SAS) is a 20-item self-report assessment device built to measure anxiety levels.

The total raw scores range from 20 to 80:

  • 20-44 Normal Range
  • 45-59 Mild to Moderate Anxiety Levels
  • 60-74 Marked to Severe Anxiety Levels
  • 75 and above Extreme Anxiety Levels
Change from baseline at one month
Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month

The Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS) is a short self-administered survey to quantify the depressed status of a patient. There are 20 items on the scale that rate the four common characteristics of depression: the pervasive effect, the physiological equivalents, other disturbances, and psychomotor activities. There are ten positively worded and ten negatively worded questions. Each question is scored on a scale of 1-4 (a little of the time, some of the time, good part of the time, most of the time).

The scores range from 25-100.

  • 25-49 Normal Range
  • 50-59 Mildly Depressed
  • 60-69 Moderately Depressed
  • 70 and above Severely Depressed
Change from baseline at one month
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) is a widely used self-report questionnaire that assesses sleep quality over a one-month time interval. In scoring the PSQI, seven component scores are derived, each scored 0 (no difficulty) to 3 (severe difficulty). The component scores are summed to produce a global score (range 0 to 21). Higher scores indicate worse sleep quality.
Change from baseline at one month
The Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The Short Form (36) Health Survey (SF-36) is a 36-item, patient-reported survey of patient health. The SF-36 consists of eight scaled scores, which are the weighted sums of the questions in their section. Each scale is directly transformed into a 0-100 scale on the assumption that each question carries equal weight. The lower the score the more disability. The higher the score the less disability, a score of zero is equivalent to maximum disability and a score of 100 is equivalent to no disability.
Change from baseline at one month
The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month

The Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) is a 21-question multiple-choice self-report inventory, one of the most widely used psychometric tests for measuring the severity of depression, each answer being scored on a scale value of 0 to 3. Higher total scores indicate more severe depressive symptoms. The standardized cutoffs are the following:

  • 0-13: minimal depression
  • 14-19: mild depression
  • 20-28: moderate depression
  • 29-63: severe depression.
Change from baseline at one month
State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) is a psychological inventory consisting of 40 self-report items on a 4-point Likert scale. The STAI measures two types of anxiety - state anxiety and trait anxiety. Each type of anxiety has its own scale of 20 different questions that are scored. Scores range from 20 to 80, higher scores are positively correlated with higher levels of anxiety.
Change from baseline at one month
The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The Toronto Alexithymia Scale (TAS-20) is a measure of deficiency in understanding, processing, or describing emotions. The current version has twenty statements rated on a five-point Likert scale. The total alexithymia score is the sum of responses to all 20 items, while the score for each subscale factor is the sum of the responses to that subscale.
Change from baseline at one month
The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire (FIQ) is a brief 10-item, self-administered instrument that measures physical functioning, work status, depression, anxiety, sleep, pain, stiffness, fatigue, and well being. The FIQ is composed of 10 items. The first item contains 11 questions related to physical functioning - each question is rated on a 4 point Likert type scale. Items 2 and 3 ask the patient to mark the number of days they felt well and the number of days they were unable to work (including housework) because of fibromyalgia symptoms. Items 4 through 10 are horizontal linear scales marked in 10 increments on which the patient rates work difficulty, pain, fatigue, morning tiredness, stiffness, anxiety and depression. The FIQ is composed of ten questions with a maximum score of 100, higher scores reflecting greater impact.
Change from baseline at one month
Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month

The Modified Fatigue Impact Scale (MFIS) provides an assessment of the effects of fatigue in terms of physical, cognitive, and psychosocial functioning.Items on the MFIS can be aggregated into three subscales (physical, cognitive, and psychosocial), as well as into a total MFIS score. All items are scaled so that higher scores indicate a greater impact of fatigue on a person's activities.

  • Physical Subscale: this scale can range from 0 to 36. It is computed by adding raw scores on the following items: 4+6+7+10+13+14+17+20+21.
  • Cognitive Subscale: this scale can range from 0 to 40. It is computed by adding raw scores on the following items: 1+2+3+5+11+12+15+16+18+19.
  • Psychosocial Subscale: this scale can range from 0 to 8. It is computed by adding raw scores on the following items: 8+9.
  • Total MFIS Score: the total MFIS score can range from 0 to 84. It is computed by adding scores on the physical, cognitive, and psychosocial subscales
Change from baseline at one month
The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale (MSIS-29) is a 29-item self-report measure comprised of 20 items associated with a physical scale and 9 items associated with a psychological scale.1 Items question patients (or their proxies) about the impact of multiple sclerosis (MS) on day-to-day life in the last 2 weeks. All items have 5 response options from 1 (not at all) to 5 (extremely). Each of the 2 scales are scored by summing the responses across items, then converting to a 0 to 100 scale, where 100 indicates greater impact of disease on daily function (worse health).
Change from baseline at one month
Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The Multiple Sclerosis Quality of Life-54 (MSQOL-54) is a multidimensional health-related quality of life measure that combines both generic and multiple sclerosis MS-specific items into a single instrument. This 54-item instrument generates 12 subscales along with two summary scores, and two additional single-item measures. The subscales are: physical function, role limitations-physical, role limitations-emotional, pain, emotional well-being, energy, health perceptions, social function, cognitive function, health distress, overall quality of life, and sexual function. The summary scores are the physical health composite summary and the mental health composite summary. The single item measures are satisfaction with sexual function and change in health. The 54 items are divided into 12 multi-item and 2 single-item scales. The MSQOL-54 items are transformed linearly to 0-100 scores, and final scores are obtained by averaging items within the scales.
Change from baseline at one month
Fatigue severity scale (FSS)
Time Frame: Change from baseline at one month
The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) is a 9-item scale which measures the severity of fatigue and its effect on a person's activities and lifestyle in patients with a variety of disorders. Answers are scored on a seven point scale where 1 = strongly disagree and 7 = strongly agree. This means the minimum score possible is nine and the highest is 63. The higher the score, the more severe the fatigue is and the more it affects the person's activities. It is simple to understand and takes an average of eight minutes to answer
Change from baseline at one month

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Neuromed IRCCS

Publications and helpful links

The person responsible for entering information about the study voluntarily provides these publications. These may be about anything related to the study.

General Publications

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

May 11, 2025

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 11, 2025

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 11, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

March 11, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 22, 2025

First Posted (Actual)

March 28, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

March 28, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

March 22, 2025

Last Verified

March 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • NIBS-tSMS/tDCS

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

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