Brain zaps for bladder control? small study tests magnetic therapy

NCT ID NCT06198439

Symptom relief Sponsor: The Methodist Hospital Research Institute Source: ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

First seen Jun 26, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time

Summary

This study tested whether a non-invasive magnetic brain stimulation technique (rTMS) can help adults with overactive bladder. Researchers measured changes in brain activity and bladder symptoms in 14 participants. The goal was to see if targeting specific brain regions could improve bladder control and reduce urgency.

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 (rTMS) device
What this could lead to: If it works, this could point toward a non-invasive, drug-free way to ease overactive bladder symptoms by retraining brain regions.
What could go wrong: This is a very small, early study with only 14 people and no comparison group. Results may not apply to everyone, and the effect on bladder symptoms is still uncertain.

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

14 people

The number who actually took part.

Started

Jan 2024

Finished

Mar 2026

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

40 to 80 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: * Females \& Males * 40 to 80 years old * 3 months of OAB symptoms without active urinary tract infection currently * Bladder diary: * Mean voids/24 hours ≥ 8.0 * Mean urgency episodes/24 hours ≥ 3.0 * Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \>10 Exclusion Criteria: * Pregnant, nursing, or self-report of planning to become pregnant. * Contraindication to MRI or to the Rapid2 Magstim Device as listed in the operator manual * Qmax \< 10 ml/s in males on uroflow * \< 20th percentile on Liverpool nomogram * Postvoid residual volume ≥ 200 mL, suprapubic or indwelling catheter * Personal or immediate family history of seizure disorder * Taking (bupropion) Wellbutrin or heavy alcohol use * Parkinson's disease, Multiple sclerosis, spinal cord injury * Intracranial lesions and hemorrhagic stroke within the last 12 months * History of interstitial cystitis, pelvic radiation, bladder augmentation * Intradetrusor botulinum toxin injections within 6 months * Pelvic floor therapy within 2 months. * Active/on-mode Sacral nerve stimulator (eligible if turned off) * Incarcerated patients

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Conditions

The condition(s) this trial relates to.

overactive bladder urethral syndrome Urinary Incontinence Urinary Incontinence, Urge

As listed by the trial registrant

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

Overactive bladder Overactive bladder syndrome Urge incontinence Urgency-frequency syndrome Urinary incontinence Urinary incontinence, urge

Brain zaps for bladder control? small study tests magnetic therapy

What the study statuses mean