Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 55Years - 100Years
All Genders
NCT04558164

Network-targeted Theta-burst Stimulation for Episodic Memory Improvement in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Led by University of California, Los Angeles · Updated on 2026-05-05

70

Participants Needed

1

Research Sites

283 weeks

Total Duration

On this page

Sponsors

U

University of California, Los Angeles

Lead Sponsor

N

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborating Sponsor

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

The purpose of this study is to see if stimulation of the brain can improve memory. The investigators will use a device called transcranial magnetic stimulation that can stimulate and activate a specific part of the brain that is important for memory. The study will enroll MCI subjects and subjects with subjective memory complaints who will be randomly assigned to receive active or sham brain stimulation. 'Blinded' or 'sham-controlled' means that the subject will not know whether the treatment they receive is the active treatment or the non-active stimulation. In the 'sham' condition, the stimulator will turn on but will not actually be stimulating the target brain region.

CONDITIONS

Official Title

Network-targeted Theta-burst Stimulation for Episodic Memory Improvement in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Who Can Participate

Age: 55Years - 100Years
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Agreement to participate in the study
  • 55-100 years of age
  • Right-handedness
  • In good general health
  • Living independently
  • Subjective memory complaints (self-report and positive score on MFQ)
  • Katz ADL scale and Lawton iADL scale: reviewed case-by-case if not 100%, excluding those with impairment in daily functioning due to cognitive issues
  • MMSE score greater than 24
  • PHQ Depression score 7 or less
  • Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently
  • Diagnosis of mild neurocognitive disorder per DSM-5; subjective memory complaints without aMCI diagnosis reviewed case-by-case
  • No change in psychotropic medication use for depression, anxiety, ADHD, or psychosis 1 month prior and during the study
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Unwilling or unable to provide informed consent
  • Diagnosis of dementia
  • Active major medical, psychiatric, or neurological disorder causing cognitive impairment
  • History of alcohol or substance abuse
  • Recent (less than 6 months) alcohol or substance abuse (excluding nicotine or caffeine)
  • History of stroke related to memory problem, traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness, or other neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease
  • Non-English speaking
  • Not right-handed by self-report or evaluation
  • Previous transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) treatment
  • Poorly controlled hypertension or cardiovascular disease
  • Current enrollment in memory-enhancement study or course
  • Contraindications to TMS or MRI including claustrophobia, metal in body, recent surgery (within 60 days), certain implants, or abnormal MRI results
  • Use of anticholinergic medications, sedating antihistamines, drugs with significant anticholinergic or antihistaminic side effects, or benzodiazepines (evaluated case-by-case)

AI-Screening

AI-Powered Screening

Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility

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Trial Site Locations

Total: 1 location

1

University of California Los Angeles

Los Angeles, California, United States, 90024

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

S

Sonja Hiller

CONTACT

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

SINGLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

TREATMENT

Number of Arms

2

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