Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41013466›Full record

Trial reportJournal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation2025

Effects of intermittent theta-burst stimulation on cognition and glymphatic system activity in mild cognitive impairment and very mild Alzheimer's disease: a randomized controlled trial.

Cheng-Chang Yang, Ko-Yen Huang, Jung-Lung Hsu, Chaur-Jong Hu, Yueh-Hsun Lu, Yi-Chun Kuan

Registry-linked trialAbstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Trial report in Journal of neuroengineering and rehabilitation, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT04555941 (Cognitive Effects of Theta Burst Stimulation in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease), which is not on this map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

NCT04555941 phase2completednot on this map

Cognitive Effects of Theta Burst Stimulation in Mild Cognitive Impairment and Alzheimer's Disease

TypeinterventionalSponsorTaipei Medical University Shuang Ho HospitalRan2020 to 2022Enrolled54ConditionsMild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer Disease, Cognitive DeclineArmsintermittent theta burst stimulation
3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Review
  3. Review
  4. Article
  5. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Cheng-Chang Yang *Department of Neurology, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, No. 291, Zhongzheng Rd., Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, 235041, Taiwan.
Ko-Yen Huang *Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, 235041, Taiwan.
Jung-Lung HsuDepartment of Neurology, New Taipei Municipal Tu Cheng Hospital, New Taipei City, Taiwan.
Chaur-Jong HuDepartment of Neurology, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, No. 291, Zhongzheng Rd., Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, 235041, Taiwan.
Yueh-Hsun LuTaipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, 110301, Taiwan.
Yi-Chun KuanDepartment of Neurology, Shuang-Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, No. 291, Zhongzheng Rd., Zhonghe District, New Taipei City, 235041, Taiwan. yckuang2@tmu.edu.tw.

Funding

Ministry of Science and Technology, Taiwan MOST 109-2410-H-038-011Taipei Medical University TMU112-AE1-B19
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundRepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has demonstrated efficacy in alleviating cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Although animal studies suggest rTMS may enhance glymphatic system efficiency and reduce amyloid deposits, its impact on human glymphatic activity remains uncertain.

methodsThis double-blind, randomized, sham-controlled trial investigated the effects of intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS), a novel rTMS technique, on cognitive function and glymphatic system activity using diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS) in 52 participants with amnestic MCI or very mild AD. Participants underwent 10 sessions of iTBS targeting the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex over two weeks. Cognitive and glymphatic assessments were conducted at baseline, week 2, and week 6. Of the 52 participants, 28 received active iTBS, while 24 received sham stimulation. After the first two weeks, the sham group transitioned to active iTBS.

resultsSignificant cognitive improvements were observed at week 6 in the iTBS group, indicating delayed cognitive enhancement, though no immediate changes in cognition or glymphatic system activity (measured by the ALPS index) were observed. No adverse events were reported.

conclusionsThese findings suggest that iTBS can produce delayed cognitive enhancement in individuals with amnestic MCI and very mild AD, while the impact on the glymphatic system remains uncertain and requires further investigation.

trial registrationClinicaltrials.gov (NCT04555941).

Indexed as

Alzheimer DiseaseCognitionCognitive DysfunctionGlymphatic SystemTheta RhythmTranscranial Magnetic StimulationAgedAged, 80 and overDiffusion Tensor ImagingDouble-Blind MethodFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedTreatment OutcomeAlzheimer’s diseaseDiffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI-ALPS)Glymphatic systemIntermittent theta burst stimulationMild cognitive impairmentTranscranial magnetic stimulation

Identifiers

PMID41013466
PMCPMC12465570

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Registered trials

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.