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Effectiveness of Personalized Hippocampal Network-Targeted Stimulation in Alzheimer Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial
Jung YH, Jang H, Park S, Kim HJ, Seo SW, Kim GB, Shon YM, Kim S et al.. JAMA network open, 2024-05-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Results Among 30 participants (18 in the rTMS group; 12 in the sham group) who completed the 8-week trial, the mean (SD) age was 69.8 (9.1) years; 18 (60%) were female. As the primary outcome, the change in ADAS-Cog at the eighth week was significantly different between the rTMS and sham groups (coefficient [SE], -5.2 [1.6]; P = .002). The change in CDR-SOB (-4.5 [1.4]; P = .007) and S-IADL (1.7 [0.7]; P = .004) were significantly different between the groups favoring rTMS groups. The fMRI connectivity analysis revealed that rTMS increased the functional connectivity between the hippocampus and precuneus, with its changes associated with improvements in ADAS-Cog (r = -0.57; P = .005). Conclusions and relevance This randomized clinical trial demonstrated the positive effects of rTMS on cognitive and functional performance, and the plastic changes in the hippocampal-cortical network. Our results support the consideration of rTMS as a potential treatment for AD.
Key findings
- Results Among 30 participants (18 in the rTMS group; 12 in the sham group) who completed the 8-week trial, the mean (SD) age was 69.8 (9.1) years; 18 (60%) were female.
- As the primary outcome, the change in ADAS-Cog at the eighth week was significantly different between the rTMS and sham groups (coefficient [SE], -5.2 [1.6]; P = .002).
- The change in CDR-SOB (-4.5 [1.4]; P = .007) and S-IADL (1.7 [0.7]; P = .004) were significantly different between the groups favoring rTMS groups.
- The fMRI connectivity analysis revealed that rTMS increased the functional connectivity between the hippocampus and precuneus, with its changes associated with improvements in ADAS-Cog (r = -0.57; P = .005).
- Conclusions and relevance This randomized clinical trial demonstrated the positive effects of rTMS on cognitive and functional performance, and the plastic changes in the hippocampal-cortical network.
Why it matters
In this 8-week trial of only 30 participants, personalized rTMS improved cognitive and functional scores and increased connectivity between the hippocampus and precuneus compared with sham treatment. The small sample size means these results are preliminary and need confirmation in larger trials before rTMS can be considered a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.
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Study details
- Participants30
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 71/100
Published in a leading specialty journal, and it is a randomised controlled trial. Scored zero for effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 9 / 10 | Tier 2 — leading specialty journal (JAMA network open) |
| Journal's citation record | 2 / 4 | JAMA Network Open: journal h-index 235 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 11 / 12 | A randomised controlled trial (from PubMed type “Randomized Controlled Trial”) |
| Strength of evidence | 5 / 5 | Rated “high” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2024 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 1 / 4 | 30 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomised / blinded | 1 / 2 | Randomised (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 4 / 7 | Cited 71 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 17.8 citations a year over 4 year(s) since 2024 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 71 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Duk Lyul Na: h-index 67 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Seoul National University: institution h-index 1,053 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 8 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 38709534) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 71 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
- DOI: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9220
- PubMed: 38709534
- Original source →
- Free full text: JAMA Network Open →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Jung, Y. H., Jang, H., Park, S., Kim, H. J., Seo, S. W., Kim, G. B., et al. (2024). Effectiveness of Personalized Hippocampal Network-Targeted Stimulation in Alzheimer Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA network open. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9220
Vancouver
Jung YH, Jang H, Park S, Kim HJ, Seo SW, Kim GB, et al. Effectiveness of Personalized Hippocampal Network-Targeted Stimulation in Alzheimer Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA network open. 2024. doi:10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9220. PMID: 38709534.
BibTeX
@article{jung2024-38709534,
author = {Jung, Y. H. and Jang, H. and Park, S. and Kim, H. J. and Seo, S. W. and Kim, G. B. and Shon, Y. M. and Kim, S. and others},
title = {{Effectiveness of Personalized Hippocampal Network-Targeted Stimulation in Alzheimer Disease: A Randomized Clinical Trial}},
journal = {JAMA network open},
year = {2024},
doi = {10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9220},
pmid = {38709534},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2024.9220}
}
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