Trial reportNeurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology2025
Intermittent theta burst stimulation improves spasticity, pain and cognitive functions in progressive multiple sclerosis: a pilot study.
Trial report in Neurological sciences : official journal of the Italian Neurological Society and of the Italian Society of Clinical Neurophysiology, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
introductionMultiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune disease of the central nervous system marked by inflammation and demyelination. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) serves as a biomarker for neurodegeneration. Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques such as transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) may alleviate MS-related symptoms.
objectiveTo assess the effects of intermittent theta burst stimulation (i-TBS), a TMS protocol, on spasticity, disability, quality of life, fatigue, cognition, and serum NfL levels in patients with progressive MS.
methodsThirty-six patients with primary or secondary progressive MS were randomized to either i-TBS (10 sessions over 2 weeks) or control (no stimulation). Outcomes included EDSS, MAS, VAS, walking speed, MSQOL-54, fatigue, cognition, and serum NfL. Assessments were conducted at baseline and 3 months (both groups), and also at 1 month in the i-TBS group.
resultsi-TBS significantly improved spasticity (p = 0.002), pain (p = 0.002), walking speed (p = 0.001), and daily activities (p = 0.005). Improvements were also observed in verbal learning (p = 0.020) and visuospatial memory (p = 0.006). No significant change in serum NfL levels was detected.
conclusionAlthough i-TBS did not alter serum NfL levels, it was associated with symptom relief and cognitive gains in progressive MS. These preliminary results support the potential of i-TBS as a supportive neurorehabilitation strategy.
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