Actively Recruiting
Personalized Brain Stimulation to Treat Chronic Concussive Symptoms
Led by University of California, Los Angeles · Updated on 2026-02-24
75
Participants Needed
1
Research Sites
147 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of California, Los Angeles
Lead Sponsor
U
United States Department of Defense
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
The goal of this study is to investigate a new treatment for chronic symptoms after concussion or mild traumatic brain injury in people aged 18-65 years old. Chronic symptoms could include dizziness, headache, fatigue, brain fog, memory difficulty, sleep disruption, irritability, or anxiety that occurred or worsened after the injury. These symptoms can interfere with daily functioning, causing difficulty returning to physical activity, work, or school. Previous concussion therapies have not been personalized nor involved direct treatments to the brain itself. The treatment being tested in the present study is a noninvasive, personalized form of brain stimulation, called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). The investigators intend to answer the questions: 1. Does personalized TMS improve brain connectivity after concussion? 2. Does personalized TMS improve avoidance behaviors and chronic concussive symptoms? 3. Do the improvements last up to 2 months post-treatment? 4. Are there predictors of treatment response, or who might respond the best? Participants will undergo 14 total visits to University of California Los Angeles (UCLA): 1. One for the baseline symptom assessments and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) 2. Ten for TMS administration 3. Three for post-treatment symptom assessments and MRIs Participants will have a 66% chance of being assigned to an active TMS group and 33% chance of being assigned to a sham, or inactive, TMS group. The difference is that the active TMS is more likely to cause functional changes in the brain than the inactive TMS.
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Personalized Brain Stimulation to Treat Chronic Concussive Symptoms
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) within the last 12 months as defined by World Health Organization criteria
- Age between 18 and 65 years at the time of the mTBI
- High burden of post-concussive symptoms with a score of 20 or higher on the Rivermead Post-Concussion Symptoms Questionnaire
You will not qualify if you...
- Presence of objective neurologic deficits
- Ongoing or prolonged post-concussive symptoms lasting more than 3 months from a previous mTBI within 2 years of the current injury
- History of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) therapy
- Contraindications for TMS or MRI, including metallic implants (other than dental) or pacemaker
- Severe medical or mental health problems that would interfere with participation or pose risk, such as liver, kidney, or heart disease; uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension; malignancy; psychosis; previous seizures; or pregnancy
- Active alcohol or illicit drug abuse
- Inability to speak and read English
AI-Screening
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Trial Site Locations
Total: 1 location
1
UCLA
Westwood, Los Angeles, California, United States, 90095
Actively Recruiting
Research Team
K
Kevin Bickart, MD/PhD
CONTACT
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
QUADRUPLE
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Model
PARALLEL
Primary Purpose
TREATMENT
Number of Arms
3
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