Actively Recruiting
Examining the Effects of Theta Burst TMS on Brain Connectivity and Balance Ability in Older Adults With Balance Problems
Led by Weinberg Medical Physics LLC · Updated on 2025-05-15
30
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
55 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
W
Weinberg Medical Physics LLC
Lead Sponsor
U
University of Houston
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this study is to learn if manipulating the brain using magnets works to treat balance impairment, a major cause of falls, in older adults with balance problems. The technique to manipulate the brain using magnets is known as transcranial magnetic stimulation or TMS. The main questions this study aims to answer are: * How does TMS change communication between brain areas? * Does TMS improve balance ability in older adults with balance problems? Researchers will compare the TMS group to a placebo group to see if manipulating the brain using magnets works to treat balance impairment. Participants will: * Receive TMS or placebo stimulation for 4 weeks. * Visit the laboratory for checkups and tests 3 times.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Examining the Effects of Theta Burst TMS on Brain Connectivity and Balance Ability in Older Adults With Balance Problems
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Able to provide informed consent
- All ethnic groups
- 65 years of age or older
- History of 2 or more non-injury falls or at least 1 injury fall in the past year
- No dementia or uncontrolled psychiatric disorders
- Able to walk and stand for 5 minutes continuously without assistance
- Willing to undergo MRI and participate in the 4-week intervention and laboratory assessments before, immediately after, and 3 months after intervention
You will not qualify if you...
- Unable to provide informed consent
- Non-English speaking
- Contraindications to TMS such as pregnancy, metal in brain/skull, neurostimulator, pacemaker, infusion device, or certain medications for mental illness
- Unintentional weight loss of 10 pounds or more in the past year
- Severe uncontrolled hypertension or diabetes
- Poor cognitive status (Montreal Cognitive Assessment score less than 26)
- Untreated depression or Geriatric Depression Scale score greater than 7
- History of limb amputation
- Planned surgery within the next 3 months
- History of chemotherapy or planned chemotherapy within 6 months or active cancer
- Severe osteoporosis with fracture
- Pregnant or possibly pregnant
- Chronic inflammatory, autoimmune, or infectious diseases such as active tuberculosis, HIV, rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, hepatitis B or C
- Illicit drug use
- Use of medications increasing fall risk including sedatives, hypnotics, anti-cholinergics, benzodiazepines, or antidepressants
- Intracranial bleeds seen on recent CT or MRI scans
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
The Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics Research at the University of Houston
Houston, Texas, United States, 77204
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
P
Pranav J Parikh, MBBS, PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
TRIPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
2
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