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Brain zaps for Alzheimer's: new study targets gut bugs to boost memory

NCT ID NCT07346794

Disease control Sponsor: Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

What the study statuses mean

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Recruitment status, easiest to join first

Recruiting now
This trial is taking on new participants right now.
Not yet recruiting This study
Registered, but not yet taking participants.
By invitation only
Not open to general applications. Only people the study team invites can take part.
Paused
Paused for now. It may or may not start again.
Ongoing
Running, but no longer taking on new participants.
Completed
The trial has finished. Results may not be published yet.
Stopped early
Stopped early, before it reached the end. That can be for many reasons, including safety.
Cancelled
Cancelled before anyone took part.

Expanded access (not trials)

Expanded access
Not a trial. This treatment can be requested outside a study, case by case, for people who qualify.
Expanded access (paused)
Not a trial. The treatment can normally be requested outside a study, but is unavailable right now.
Expanded access (ended)
Not a trial. The treatment could once be requested outside a study, but no longer can.
Approved
The treatment has been approved, so it is available normally rather than through this programme.

When the status isn't known

Details not published
The full record has not been published yet, so there is little to show here.
Status unknown
This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.

First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026

Summary

This study tests whether a non-invasive brain stimulation technique called rTMS can improve symptoms of Alzheimer's disease by regulating the 'gut-brain axis'—the link between gut bacteria and the brain. Researchers will treat 200 Alzheimer's patients with either real or sham rTMS for 4 weeks, then track their memory, thinking, and gut health for a year. Another 200 healthy volunteers will serve as a comparison group. The goal is to understand how rTMS might work through the gut-brain connection, not to cure the disease.

What this could mean

Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.

Active substance
repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS)
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a non-drug treatment for Alzheimer's that improves memory and thinking by restoring balance in the gut-brain connection.
What could go wrong
This is an early-stage study (Phase NA) focused on understanding mechanisms, not yet proving a cure. The treatment is short-term (4 weeks), and benefits may be modest or temporary. Mild side effects like headache or scalp irritation are possible.

This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.

Study facts

What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.

Phase

Not a phased trial

Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.

Participants

About 400 people

The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.

Expected to start

Apr 2026

An estimate. Start dates often move.

Expected to finish

Sep 2030

An estimate. End dates often move.

Lead sponsor

Other sponsor

The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.

Who can take part

This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.

Ages

50 years and older

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.

Show the full entry requirements

Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.

Inclusion Criteria: * Dementia Patients: Conformed to internationally recognized diagnostic criteria for dementia (e.g., DSM-5, NINCDS-ADRDA) * Diagnosed through clinical evaluation, neuropsychological scale assessments, and relevant examinations * Aged ≥50 years and residing in Nanchang, Jiangxi * With dementia-negative family history, no severe psychiatric or neurological disorders * No history of major systemic diseases. Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to cooperate with all required examinations, intervention procedures, and sample collection during the study.

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

Alzheimer disease

As listed by the trial registrant

The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.

Alzheimer's disease RTMS stimulation

How to take part

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  1. The official record

    ClinicalTrials.gov lists the study team's own contact details, including names and phone numbers. We don't republish those.

    Open the record ↗

  2. A doctor treating you

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