Individualized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Parkinsonian Disorders

Official title

Exploration of the Efficacy of Individualized Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Parkinsonian Disorders

Overview

This clinical trial aims to evaluate whether individualized targeted repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) can improve motor and non-motor symptoms in patients with parkinsonian disorders. The main question it aims to answer is: * Does individualized targeted rTMS alleviate symptoms of parkinsonian disorders? * Which clinical manifestations of parkinsonian syndromes are responsive to individualized targeted rTMS, and to what degree? Procedures: * Preparation (Screening) Participants will undergo clinical assessments, MRI, and EEG before the treatment. * Treatment (2 Weeks) Participants will receive a 10-day TMS treatment (once daily, Monday-Friday). Each treatment day takes approximately 3-4 hours. Participants need to keep stable medications and rehabilitation routines during this time. * Follow-up (10 Weeks) Participants will undergo follow-up assessments at the end of treatment and 10 weeks after treatment. Assessments include clinical scales, MRI, and EEG.

Detailed description

Parkinsonian disorders, including Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and progressive supranuclear palsy, are characterized by heterogeneous motor and non-motor manifestations that may respond incompletely to conventional pharmacological and rehabilitative treatments. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation may provide a noninvasive approach to modulating dysfunctional brain networks. This study aims to evaluate the feasibility, safety, and potential clinical effects of individualized, network-guided repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation in patients with parkinsonian disorders.

This is an ongoing, single-center, single-group, open-label interventional study comprising disease-specific cohorts of participants with Parkinson's disease, multiple system atrophy, and progressive supranuclear palsy. Individualized stimulation targets are identified using structural and functional magnetic resonance imaging, with particular attention to sites within the somato-cognitive action network. Participants receive intermittent theta burst stimulation according to the stimulation protocol specified in the intervention section of this record.

Clinical, neuroimaging, and neurophysiological assessments are performed before treatment, immediately after completion of treatment, and at the prespecified follow-up visit. Clinical assessments evaluate motor function, mobility, balance, ataxia, non-motor symptoms, autonomic symptoms, orthostatic blood pressure regulation, and urinary function, as applicable to each disease cohort. Magnetic resonance imaging and electroencephalography are used to explore treatment-related changes in brain network function. Medications and rehabilitation regimens are maintained as stable as clinically feasible during the treatment period.

An initial cohort of eight participants with multiple system atrophy was evaluated as an early, disease-specific pilot and exploratory analysis of the ongoing parent study. This analysis was conducted to assess treatment feasibility, safety, and preliminary clinical changes in the multiple system atrophy cohort. These participants form part of the overall study population and do not constitute a separate clinical trial. Recruitment and follow-up of the parent study are ongoing.

Interventions

• Device TMS
  Intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) will be delivered using a figure-of-eight coil targeting the individualized somato-cognitive action network sites (involving superior and central region) in the left hemisphere. Stimulation intensity will be set at 100% of the resting motor threshold. The iTBS protocol will consist of bursts of 3 pulses at 50 Hz, repeated at 5 Hz. Each stimulation train include 10 bursts, with an inter-train interval of 8 seconds. A total of 60 trains will be delivered

Primary outcome measures

• Change in motor symptoms measured by MDS-UPDRS Part III [Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment and 10 weeks after treatment]
• Change in mobility measured by the 5-meter Timed Up and Go test [Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment and 10 weeks after treatment]
• Change in non-motor symptoms measured by the Non-Motor Symptoms Questionnaire [Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment and 10 weeks after treatment]

Secondary outcome measures (7)

• Change in motor symptoms measured by UMSARS Part II [Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment and 10 weeks after treatment]
• Change in disease severity measured by PSPRS [Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment and 10 weeks after treatment]
• Change in balance measured by the Berg Balance Scale [Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment and 10 weeks after treatment]
• Change in ataxia severity measured by SARA [Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment and 10 weeks after treatment]
• Change in autonomic symptoms measured by the COMPASS-31 [Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment and 10 weeks after treatment]
• Change in maximal systolic blood pressure drop during active standing [Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment and 10 weeks after treatment]
• Change in post-void residual volume [Time frame: Baseline to post-treatment and 10 weeks after treatment]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• Diagnostic Criteria Clinically established or clinically probable Parkinson's Disease (PD) according to the 2015 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society (MDS) diagnostic criteria; Clinically established or clinically probable Multiple System Atrophy (MSA) according to the 2022 MDS diagnostic criteria; Clinically probable or clinically possible Progressive Supranuclear Palsy (PSP) according to the 2017 MDS diagnostic criteria.
• Demographics Aged 30 to 80 years, inclusive; no gender restrictions.
• Disease Severity and Staging PD: Modified Hoehn and Yahr (H-Y) stage 2-4; MSA: Unified Multiple System Atrophy Rating Scale (UMSARS) Part IV stage 1-4; PSP: Modified Rankin Scale (mRS) grade 2-4.
• Informed Consent and Compliance Ability to understand and comply with the study requirements and provide written informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• Contraindications to TMS Presence of intracranial metallic implants or other foreign bodies, including but not limited to cochlear implants, cardiac pacemakers, or internal metallic/magnetic fragments.
• Contraindications to EEG and MRI EEG: Known allergy to conductive paste or other EEG-related contraindications. MRI: History of claustrophobia, presence of MRI-incompatible implants, or extensive tattoos.
• Concurrent Physical Therapies Currently receiving Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) or other therapeutic physical modalities, such as Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS).
• Unstable Medical Conditions Presence of unstable systemic diseases requiring urgent pharmacological or surgical intervention.
• Neurological and Psychiatric History Personal or family history of epilepsy; History of moderate-to-severe psychiatric or psychological disorders; Chronic insomnia or regular use of sedative-hypnotics; Current use of medications that significantly alter central nervous system excitability.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

N/A

Model

Single group

Masking

Open label

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

China · 1 center

• Peking University First Hospital — Beijing

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07570212 · PKUFH-2026-TMS-001

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗