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Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Improving Cognition in Patients With Alzheimer Disease: Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial
Moussavi Z, Rutherford G, Lithgow B, Millikin C, Modirrousta M, Mansouri B, Wang X, Omelan C et al.. JMIR research protocols, 2021-01-08
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Recent trials of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have reported encouraging results for improving or stabilizing cognition in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer dementia. However, owing to small samples and lack of a well-controlled double-blind design, the results to date are inconclusive. Methods We have designed our study to be a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the short- and long-term (up to 6 months) benefits of active rTMS treatment at two doses (10 sessions over 2 weeks and 20 sessions over 4 weeks) compared with sham rTMS treatment. Results As of November 1, 2020, we have screened 523 individuals, out of which 133 were eligible and have been enrolled. Conclusions This protocol design will allow to address both the rTMS active treatment dose and its short- and long-term effects compared with sham treatment in large samples.
Key findings
- Recent trials of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have reported encouraging results for improving or stabilizing cognition in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer dementia.
- However, owing to small samples and lack of a well-controlled double-blind design, the results to date are inconclusive.
- Methods We have designed our study to be a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial investigating the short- and long-term (up to 6 months) benefits of active rTMS treatment at two doses (10 sessions over 2 weeks and 20 sessions over 4 weeks) compared with sham rTMS treatment.
- Results As of November 1, 2020, we have screened 523 individuals, out of which 133 were eligible and have been enrolled.
- Conclusions This protocol design will allow to address both the rTMS active treatment dose and its short- and long-term effects compared with sham treatment in large samples.
Why it matters
This is a protocol for a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) at two doses versus sham in patients with Alzheimer's disease. No results are reported yet; the authors note that previous rTMS results are inconclusive because of small samples and lack of well-controlled double-blind designs.
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Study details
- Participants523
- Evidence strengthHigh
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design and effect reported because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (JMIR research protocols) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | JMIR Research Protocols: journal h-index 62 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| 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 | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 2 / 4 | 523 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 | 2 / 2 | Randomised and blinded or placebo-controlled (as stated in the record) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 16 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 1 / 5 | 2.3 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 1 / 6 | Cited 0.7× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 7 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Lisa M. Koski: h-index 32 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | McGill University: institution h-index 1,373 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 3 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33416500) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
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Read the original
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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
Moussavi, Z., Rutherford, G., Lithgow, B., Millikin, C., Modirrousta, M., Mansouri, B., et al. (2021). Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Improving Cognition in Patients With Alzheimer Disease: Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. JMIR research protocols. https://doi.org/10.2196/25144
Vancouver
Moussavi Z, Rutherford G, Lithgow B, Millikin C, Modirrousta M, Mansouri B, et al. Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Improving Cognition in Patients With Alzheimer Disease: Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial. JMIR research protocols. 2021. doi:10.2196/25144. PMID: 33416500.
BibTeX
@article{moussavi2021-33416500,
author = {Moussavi, Z. and Rutherford, G. and Lithgow, B. and Millikin, C. and Modirrousta, M. and Mansouri, B. and Wang, X. and Omelan, C. and others},
title = {{Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Improving Cognition in Patients With Alzheimer Disease: Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial}},
journal = {JMIR research protocols},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.2196/25144},
pmid = {33416500},
url = {https://doi.org/10.2196/25144}
}
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