Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation + Language Therapy to Treat Mild Aphasia

Part of paid clinical trials in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Sponsor
University of Pennsylvania
Study ID
NCT06842745
Phase
PHASE2
Status
Recruiting
Apply to this trial

Conditions

  • Aphasia
  • Aphasia Following Cerebral Infarction
  • Aphasia, Acquired
  • Stroke

Eligibility Criteria

Sex
ALL
Age
40 Years - 85 Years
Healthy Volunteers
Not accepted

Interventions

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) — DEVICE
    TMS, is a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, that uses magnetic pulses to stimulate specific areas of the brain. In this study we will utilize theta-burst stimulation which uses a higher frequency pulse of 50 Hz delivered for 40 seconds for a total of 600 pulses.
  • Speech-Language Therapy (SLT) — BEHAVIORAL
    Our SLT protocol draws from two theories and evidence-based cognitive-linguistic frameworks: (1) conversational alignment, which engages priming of lexical and syntactic structures through dialogue and conversation and (2) increased tolerance of memory load in the context of sentence repetition and dialogue tasks. Administration of these tasks will abide by principles of constraint-induced language therapy, i.e., intense treatment schedule and verbal responding only. All participants will receive SLT.

Study Details

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine if Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) combined with Speech-Language Therapy (SLT) is an effective treatment for mild aphasia in persons with chronic stroke. The main questions this study aims to answer are: 1. Can TMS combined with SLT improve conversational speech and comprehension? 2. Can we identify specific behavioral and biological characteristics that would benefit most from the TMS and SLT treatment? Researchers will compare real TMS to sham (fake) TMS to see whether TMS can treat post-stroke mild aphasia. Participants will: * Complete a screening and medical intake to determine eligibility * Undergo a MRI * Participate in 10 consecutive sessions (Monday-Friday) of TMS and SLT treatment * Complete follow-up assessments 2 and 4 months after treatment

Key Dates

Start date
Feb 11, 2025
Status verified
Mar 2026
Primary completion
Aug 31, 2026
Completion
Aug 31, 2026

Study Design

Enrollment
24 participants (estimated)
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT

Arms

  • Experimental: Real TMS
    Some of our participants will be randomized to the real treatment arm where they will receive 10 sessions of real TMS paired with speech-language therapy.
  • Sham Comparator: Fake TMS
    Some of our participants will be randomized to the sham treatment arm where they will receive 10 sessions of fake TMS paired with speech-language therapy.

Primary Outcome Measure

Sentence Processing [ Time Frame: From baseline to 4 months post-intervention ]

Central Contacts

Locations (1)

FacilityCityStateZIPSite coordinators
University of PennsylvaniaPhiladelphiaPennsylvania19014-

Find similar trials in Philadelphia, PA

By condition
Stroke
By specialty
NeurologyBrain disorders
By research site
University of Pennsylvania· Philadelphia, PA

Related Studies