Trial results for a study investigating Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) and Constraint Induced Language Therapy (CILT) for Alzheimer's Disease were posted on ClinicalTrials.gov on 2025-09-15, involving 23 participants.
Background
Impaired verbal communication is a significant symptom of Alzheimer's Disease (AD), contributing to considerable distress and disability for patients and caregivers. Current therapeutic options specifically targeting this deficit are limited. Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has shown promise in improving general cognitive function in individuals with AD. This study aimed to investigate whether combining TMS with Constraint Induced Language Therapy (CILT) could offer an effective approach to improve verbal communication in this patient population.
Trial design
This completed Phase 1 study enrolled 23 participants with Alzheimer Disease. The trial investigated the effectiveness of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) combined with Constraint Induced Language Therapy (CILT) compared to sham TMS. The study aimed to assess changes in verbal communication abilities.
Key results
The trial reported changes in two key measures related to verbal communication:
- Change in WAB-AQ Score (score on a scale):
- For the Active TMS group, the mean change was -1.7 (Standard Deviation 4.3).
- For the Sham TMS group, the mean change was -0.1 (Standard Deviation 7.3).
- Change in Percentage of Items Correct on the PNT (percentage of correct responses):
- For the Active TMS group, the mean change was -3.2 (Standard Deviation 8.2).
- For the Sham TMS group, the mean change was -5.0 (Standard Deviation 6.1).
Linear regression analyses were performed, with a p-value of 0.05 reported for both analyses.
What this means
The results from this Phase 1 study provide initial data on the effects of TMS combined with CILT on verbal communication in individuals with Alzheimer's Disease. For the WAB-AQ Score, the active TMS group showed a greater mean improvement compared to the sham group. Conversely, for the Percentage of Items Correct on the PNT, the sham TMS group exhibited a larger mean improvement. As a Phase 1 study with a small enrollment of 23 participants, these findings are exploratory and indicate mixed directional changes across different language measures. Further research with larger cohorts and defined primary endpoints would be necessary to clarify the potential efficacy of this combined intervention.
Source
The information for these trial results was sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov, a public database of clinical studies. The results for the study NCT04482179, titled "Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation and Constraint Induced Language Therapy for Alzheimer Disease", were posted on 2025-09-15 on clinicaltrials.gov.