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Effects of a combined transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and cognitive training intervention in patients with Alzheimer's disease
Author(s) -
Sabbagh Marwan,
Sadowsky Carl,
Tousi Babak,
Agronin Marc E.,
Alva Gustavo,
Armon Carmel,
Bernick Charles,
Keegan Andrew P.,
Karantzoulis Stella,
Baror Eyal,
Ploznik Moran,
PascualLeone Alvaro
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1016/j.jalz.2019.08.197
Subject(s) - medicine , dementia , transcranial magnetic stimulation , memantine , clinical trial , clinical dementia rating , clinical global impression , randomized controlled trial , population , rating scale , alzheimer's disease , physical therapy , disease , psychology , stimulation , pathology , placebo , developmental psychology , alternative medicine , environmental health
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.