NCT03574207 · RECRUITING
Targeted Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation to Improve Hippocampal-dependent Declarative Memory Abilities
This small pilot study tests whether repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a device that uses magnetic pulses on the scalp, can improve memory. Researchers will measure memory performance and brain network connectivity in 48 people: healthy young adults, healthy older adults, and older adults with amnestic mild cognitive impairment. It is an early-stage device study, not proven or approved for this use.
Eligibility criteria
The investigators anticipate enrolling 48 subjects total: * 16 healthy young adults (age 19-35) * 16 healthy older adults (demographically matched to aMCI group for age, sex, and educational attainment) * 16 older adults diagnosed with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI) Inclusion Criteria: 1. Adults 19 years of age and older 2. Healthy adults without history of psychiatric or neurological disease OR previous diagnosis of amnestic MCI 3. Must be able to provide informed consent 4. Must have the ability to comply with basic instructions and have the ability to sit comfortably still for TMS, neuroimaging, and other study procedures. 5. Right-handed based on self-report (pre-screening) and evaluation with a standard test. Exclusion Criteria: 1. Individuals who have ferrous metal implanted in their body (other than in their teeth) or any other non-removable medical and/or metallic implant 2. Individuals who have increased intracranial pressure 3. Individuals who have any major medical illness (e.g., cancer, HIV+, hepatitis, heart disease) 4. Individuals who have confounding/dual diagnoses (e.g., comorbid mental illness and substance use disorder) 5. Individuals with current diagnoses of alcohol or substance abuse/dependence 6. Individuals with epilepsy, any history of seizures, or using medication that lowers seizure threshold 7. Individuals with any neurological disorder other than aMCI (e.g., stroke, traumatic brain injury) 8. Pregnant females --- as determined by urine pregnancy test --- will be excluded from this study due to uncertainty of the effects of MRI and TMS on the fetus 9. Not right-handed based on self-report (pre-screening) or evaluation with a standard test 10. Not a native English speaker.
The sponsor's own eligibility wording, lightly reformatted. The study team makes the final eligibility decision — worth discussing with your doctor.
Eligibility criteria as of 2026-03-25