Network-Guided Individualized TMS for BPSD in Alzheimer's Disease: A Double-blind Randomized Controlled Trial (NET-BPSD)

July 3, 2026 updated by: WANG KAI, Anhui Medical University

The Safety and Efficacy of Functional Impairment Network-Guided Individualized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Behavioral and Psychological Symptoms in Alzheimer's Disease (NET-BPSD): A Randomized, Double-blind, Sham-Controlled Trial

Evaluate the safety and efficacy of personalized network-guided transcranial magnetic stimulation for treating behavioral and psychological symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease.

Study Overview

Status

Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

All participants will undergo a series of medical evaluations before and after repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), including physical examination and routine laboratory tests. After meeting the eligibility criteria and providing written informed consent, each participant will complete cognitive assessments and receive rTMS treatment at the First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University. Eligible participants will be randomly assigned to the real rTMS group or the sham rTMS group using a random-number table. The individualized stimulation target for each participant will be determined based on the participant's own magnetic resonance imaging data and a predefined BPSD network. Participants will then receive either real or sham rTMS treatment for two weeks. Sham stimulation will be delivered using a sham coil. Except for the stimulation coil, all experimental procedures will be identical between the two groups. Based on a statistical power of 0.80, an effect size of 0.98, a two-sided significance level of 0.05, and an anticipated dropout rate of 10%, the final sample size will be 20 participants per group. This is a double-blind study in which both participants and clinical raters will be blinded to group allocation. Only one researcher responsible for randomization will have access to the allocation list. Each participant will receive rTMS treatment for 14 days. Before treatment, a trained researcher will administer cognitive assessments and neuropsychological tests. The primary outcome will be the total score of the Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI). Secondary assessments will include measures of cognitive function, including the ADAS-Cog, MoCA, MMSE, DST, Stroop test, BNT-30, VFT, and CDT; memory function assessed by the CAVLT; emotional symptoms assessed by the HAMA and HAMD; and treatment tolerability. All assessments will be completed within two days. Participants will also undergo multimodal MRI and electroencephalography (EEG) examinations. After the final rTMS session, treatment-related adverse events will be assessed, and participants will be instructed to answer relevant questions based on their condition during the previous 14 days. Participants will also complete the same neuropsychological assessment battery as at baseline and undergo multimodal MRI and EEG examinations again.

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 Contact Backup

Study Locations

  • China
    • Anhui
      • Hefei, Anhui, China, 230000
        • Anhui Medical University

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:

  • 1.Diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease according to the 2011 NIA-AA diagnostic criteria. 2.Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) score between 10 and 24; 3.Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) score between 0.5 and 2; 4.Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) score ≥4; 5.Education duration ≥5 years, or ability to complete the required cognitive and neuropsychological assessments; 6.Age ≥50 years and right-handedness; 7.Stable use of anti-dementia medications, including an NMDA receptor antagonist and/or cholinesterase inhibitors, for at least one month before rTMS intervention; 8.The patient and his or her family member or legal representative are able to understand the study procedures and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • 1. Recevied rTMS treatment in the past 3 months. 2. Depression or other psychiatric disorders. 3. History of head injury, stroke, epilepsy or other neurologic disease. 4. Organic brain defects on T1 or T2 images. 5. History of unexplained loss of consciousness. 6. Implanted pacemaker, medication pump, vagal stimulator, deep brain stimulator, or any implanted medical device that is incompatible with MRI. 7. Family history of medication refractory epilepsy. 8. History of substance abuse within the last 6 months.

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: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: BPSD real group
Stimulation delivered by a real coil through MagStim Rapid2 and guided by BrainSight navigation system.
Other: transcranial magnetic stimulation

Neuronavigated Theta-Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Other Name:
Sham Comparator: BPSD sham group
Stimulation delivered by a sham coil through MagStim Rapid2 and guided by BrainSight navigation system.
Other: transcranial magnetic stimulation

Neuronavigated Theta-Burst Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Other Name:

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI)
Time Frame: Baseline and 2 weeks
The Neuropsychology Scale (NPI) evaluates 12 neuropsychiatric disorders which included 10 neuropsychiatric symptoms and 2 autonomic neurological symptoms based on the caregiver's perception of the patient's behavior and the perceived distress. Each item was evaluated for its occurrence frequency (1-4 points) and severity (1-3 points). The frequency and severity were multiplied to obtain the score (0-12 points) of each item.The patient's assessment rating ranges from 0 to 144, and the caregiver's distress rating score is 0 to 60. The lower the score, the lighter the symptoms.
Baseline and 2 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive section (ADAS-Cog)
Time Frame: Baseline and 2 weeks
The changes in Alzheimers Disease Assessment Scale Cognitive section (ADAS-Cog) will constitute the major research outcome measure used to assess response to transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The ADAS-COG scale tests orientation, language, structure, use of ideas, immediate recall of words and word re-recognition, and consists of 11 questions out of a possible 70 points, with the higher the score the more cognitively impaired.
Baseline and 2 weeks
Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE)
Time Frame: Baseline and 2 weeks
The changes in MMSE will constitute the primary research outcome. The full name of MMSE is mini-mental state examination, and the scale consists of 30 subject, include the following seven aspects: time orientation, place orientation, immediate memory, attention and calculation, delay memory, language, visual space. One point is awarded for each question correctly answered during MMSE evaluation. If subject give the wrong answer or don't know answer he/she awarded 0 score, scope of scale score of 0 to 30 points. The higher the score, the better. In this study, changes in MMSE scores before and after treatment were used as secondary outcome measure.
Baseline and 2 weeks
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Time Frame: Baseline and 2 weeks
The changes in MoCA will be used to assess the response to TMS. MoCA was developed by Nasreddine et al. based on clinical experience and reference to the MMSE cognitive items and scores, and the final version was finalized in November 2004. The investigators adopted a localized version (Mandarin version#includes 2 alternative versions) in line with the Chinese cultural background. It includes 11 inspection items in 8 cognitive fields, including visual structure skills, executive function, naming, attention and calculation, language, abstract thinking, memory, and orientation. The normal score range from 26 to 30. Anyone who has been education for less than 12 years will need to add one point to his final score. The final score of the higher the better.
Baseline and 2 weeks
Digital Span Test; Forward and Backward (DST)
Time Frame: Baseline and 2 weeks
The changes in DST will constitute the secondary research outcome. Digital span test (DST) was commonly used to evaluate attention ability and instantaneous memory ability. There are two types of test: forward (0-14) and backward (0-13). In the forward test, the subjects were asked to retell the the digits immediately after hearing it untilthey could not be repeated correctly. In backward test, the subjects were asked to repeat a set of numbers in reverse order until they could not be repeated correctly. The length of the last set of Numbers correctly repeated by the subjects was the final score, forward and backward are counted separately. The higher the score, the better.
Baseline and 2 weeks
Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD)
Time Frame: Baseline and 2 weeks
Hamilton Depression Scale (HAMD) compiled by Hamilton in 1960, is the most common clinical to assess Depression Scale. In this study, we selected the HAMD version with 17 questions. Subjects were assessed for their depression in the past week. Each question scored between 0 and 4 points. Higher scores indicate more depressive symptoms. The severity of the disease and the therapeutic effect can be evaluated after treatment.
Baseline and 2 weeks
Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA)
Time Frame: Baseline and 2 weeks
Hamilton Anxiety Scale (HAMA) was compiled by Hamilton in 1959. It was one of the most commonly used scales in psychiatric clinic, including 14 items. It is often used in clinical diagnosis and degree classification of anxiety disorder. The subjects were assessed for their anxiety in the past week. Each question scored between 0 and 4 points. The higher the score, the more symptoms of anxiety.
Baseline and 2 weeks
The Stroop color word test
Time Frame: Baseline and 2 weeks
The Stroop color word test was developed by Stroop in 1935 and is used to evaluate the attention function of the subject. The subject is required to correctly read the target color on the stimulus card and record the completion time. The final completion time is the score of the participant. The shorter the time used, the better the performance of the subjects.
Baseline and 2 weeks
TMT (Trail Making Test)
Time Frame: Baseline and 2 weeks
The Trail Making Test (TMT) is divided into two parts, part A and part B. Part A requires the subject to connect 25 Numbers on the paper in sequence, and part B requires the subject to connect 25 Numbers of different colors alternately in sequence. The time it takes for the subject to complete all the Numbers is the subject's final score.
Baseline and 2 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Anhui Medical University

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)

July 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

December 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

February 1, 2027

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

July 3, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 3, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

July 9, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

July 9, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

July 3, 2026

Last Verified

July 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • AHMU-TMS-BPSD

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.

Clinical Trials on Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation

Clinical Trials on transcranial magnetic stimulation

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Tanzania

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

3
Subscribe