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rTMS to Improve Cognition in Parkinson's Disease

This study is testing a non-invasive treatment called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) using the MagVenture MagProX100 stimulator. It aims to see if rTMS can improve thinking abilities in Veterans with Parkinson's disease or atypical parkinsonism who also have mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The study will measure changes in executive function (thinking skills like planning and problem-solving) using the NIH-EXAMINER score at baseline, 8 weeks, and 12 weeks. You may be able to join if you are a Veteran receiving care at Hines VA Hospital or Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, have Parkinson's disease or atypical parkinsonism, and mild cognitive impairment, and are on stable medication. The study is currently unclear on its recruitment status.

Study design
This is a small randomized controlled trial (RCT) planning to enroll 56 participants. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either active rTMS or a sham (inactive) rTMS treatment.
What's involved
You would undergo rTMS sessions and complete standardized neurocognitive battery assessments at the start of the study, at the end of treatment, and one month later.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Your cognitive function will be assessed at a one-month follow-up after the main treatment period.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT03836950

rTMS to Improve Cognition in Parkinson's

Recruiting
PHASE1Ages 50+InterventionalTreatment
VA Office of Research and Development
~56 participants
Updated 2026-04-21 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:MagVenture MagProX100 stimulator (MagVenture, Falun, Denmark)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 2 listed sites are recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
change in NIH sponsored Executive Abilities: Measures and Instruments for neurobehavioral evaluation and re-search (NIH-EXAMINER) executive composite score
Measured over baseline, 8 weeks, 12 weeks

Conditions

Parkinson's Disease
Mild Cognitive Impairment

Explore related trials

Mild cognitive disorderParkinson Disease

NCT03836950

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 2 sites. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL

    Hines, Illinoisstudy coordinator listed

    Recruiting

  • Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL

    Chicago, Illinoisstudy coordinator listed

    Not yet recruiting

Sites open and close at different times, so the status above is per site — it can differ from the study's overall status.

Study leadership

  • Sandra L. Kletzel, PhD BA · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · Edward Hines Jr. VA Hospital, Hines, IL

Who to contact

Sandra L Kletzel, PhD BA
[email protected]
(708) 202-5735
Email the study team

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Veterans who seek services at Hines VA Hospital or Jesse Brown VA Medical Center
Diagnosis of PD or atypical parkinsonism as determined by a neurologist
Meet criteria for having mild cognitive impairment
Receiving stable (i.e., no changes in medication and medication dose) medication and who are expected to remain on stable medication for the duration of the RCT
Speak and read English
50 years or older

Exclusion

Dementia
Failure to demonstrate decision making capacity
History of deep brain stimulation surgery
Severe depression
Resting head tremor
Dyskinesia that will interfere with collecting imaging data
Has congestive heart failure
Implanted cardiac pacemaker or defibrillator
Cochlear implant, nerve stimulator, or intracranial metal clips
Implanted medical pump
Increased intracranial pressure
History of claustrophobia
Metal in eyes/face, shrapnel/bullet remnants in brain
Participants at potential increased risk of seizure including those who have the following:
history (or family history) of seizure or epilepsy
history of stroke, head injury, or unexplained seizures
presence of other neurological disease that may be associated with an altered seizure threshold
such as CVA, cerebral aneurysm, dementia, increased intracranial pressure
Concurrent medication use such as tricyclic antidepressants, neuroleptic medications, any other drug known to lower seizure threshold
Secondary conditions that may significantly alter electrolyte balance or lower seizure threshold
No quantifiable motor threshold such that rTMS dosage cannot be accurately deter-mined

What this trial measures

  • change in NIH sponsored Executive Abilities: Measures and Instruments for neurobehavioral evaluation and re-search (NIH-EXAMINER) executive composite scorebaseline, 8 weeks, 12 weeks

    The NIH-EXAMINER has an established 3-factor model defined by (1) cognitive control, (2) working memory (3) fluency. A confirmatory factor analysis indicates these 3-factors load on to 1-factor: executive composite score. Seven tests in the NIH-EXAMINER will be used to compute the composite score