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Zapping the brain to unlock words: new hope for Alzheimer's communication loss

NCT ID NCT04482179

Symptom relief Sponsor: University of Pennsylvania 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
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 This study
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 Results may not be published yet.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This status has not been confirmed recently, so it may be out of date.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 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 26, 2026

Summary

This study tested whether a combination of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and language therapy can improve verbal communication in people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer's disease. Twenty-three participants received either real TMS or a sham (fake) version along with language therapy. The goal was to see if the real TMS boosted the effects of therapy on speech and naming ability.

What this could mean

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

Active substance
Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and constraint-induced language therapy
What this could lead to
If it works, this could point toward a non-drug way to help people with Alzheimer's communicate better.
What could go wrong
This is a small, early-phase study (23 people) with no results yet. The improvement may be small or not last, and TMS can cause mild side effects like headache.

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

Phase 1

The first testing in people. Mainly checks safety and dose, usually in a small group.

Participants

23 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Feb 2020

Finished

Aug 2024

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

60 to 85 years

Sex

Anyone

Healthy volunteers

Not accepted

This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.

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: * A diagnosis of mild-moderate AD as defined by the National Institute of Aging - Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Association criteria * Mild-moderate cognitive impairment, indicated by Mini-Mental Status Exam (MMSE) scores between 23 and 15 inclusive * Must be right handed as defined by the Edinburgh Handedness Inventory * Must be a native English speaker * Must be able to understand the nature of the study, and give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * History of stroke * History of seizure * History of any other significant neurologic disease (e.g., ALS) * Significant depression as defined by the Geriatric Depression Scale. * Any significant medical disorder that, in the view of the investigators, could threaten the subject's ability to complete the study (e.g., cancer, significant cardiac disease) * Any contraindications to TMS, including uncontrolled seizures, previous brain surgery, and history of tinnitus

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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 disease

Contacts and locations

Locations

  • University of Pennsylvania

    Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19104, United States

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