Effects of a combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and cognitive training intervention in patients with Alzheimer's disease

Marwan Sabbagh, Carl Sadowsky, Babak Tousi, Marc E. Agronin, Gustavo Alva, Carmel Armon, Charles Bernick, Andrew P. Keegan, Stella Karantzoulis, Eyal Baror, Moran Ploznik, Alvaro Pascual-Leone*

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

99 Scopus citations

Abstract

Introduction: This clinical trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of a 6-week course of daily neuroAD™ therapy. Methods: 131 subjects between 60 and 90 years old, unmedicated for Alzheimer's disease (AD), or on stable doses of an acetylcholinesterase inhibitor and/or memantine, with Mini–Mental State Examination scores between 18 and 26, clinical dementia rating scale scores of 1 or 2, enrolled for a prospective, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled, multicenter clinical trial. Structural brain MRIs were obtained for transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting. Baseline Alzheimer's disease assessment scale—cognitive (ADAS-Cog) and Clinical Global Impression of Change were assessed. 129 participants were randomized to active treatment plus standard of care (SOC) or sham treatments plus SOC. Results: Subjects with baseline ADAS-Cog ≤ 30 (~85% of study population) showed a statistically significant benefit favoring active over sham. Responder analysis showed 31.7% participants in the active group with ≤ −4 point improvement on ADAS-Cog versus 15.4% in the sham group. Discussion: neuroAD™ Therapy System provides a low-risk therapeutic benefit for patients with milder AD (baseline ADAS-Cog ≤30) beyond pharmacologic SOC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)641-650
Number of pages10
JournalAlzheimer's and Dementia
Volume16
Issue number4
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Apr 2020

Funding

FundersFunder number
Neuronix Ltd.

    Keywords

    • ADAS-Cog
    • Alzheimer's disease therapeutics
    • CGI-C
    • NeuroAD™
    • TMS

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