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Theta-burst Stimulation for Memory Improvement in Mild Cognitive Impairment

This study is exploring whether a type of brain stimulation, called Theta Burst Stimulation (TBS), can improve memory in people aged 55 to 100 years old who have mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or subjective memory complaints. Researchers will use a device to stimulate a specific part of the brain important for memory. You would be randomly assigned to receive either active TBS or a sham (inactive) TBS, meaning you wouldn't know which treatment you're getting. The study will measure changes in your verbal recall, object recognition, and associative memory performance to see if the stimulation is effective. The goal is to enroll 70 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study that will enroll 70 participants. It is a blinded, sham-controlled study, meaning participants will not know if they are receiving active or inactive stimulation.
What's involved
You would have memory performance measured at baseline, during stimulation on Day 3, 7, 12, and 17, and during follow-up appointments on Day 18, 19, and 20.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Participants will be followed for three days after the stimulation period, with assessments on Day 18, 19, and 20.

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

NCT04558164

Network-targeted Theta-burst Stimulation for Episodic Memory Improvement in Mild Cognitive Impairment

Active, Not Recruiting
NAAges 55+InterventionalTreatment
University of California, Los Angeles
~70 participants
Updated 2026-08-10 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Active Theta Burst StimulationSham Theta Burst Stimulation

At a glance

Recruiting sites
0 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Verbal recall performance change
Measured over Baseline: Day 2; During stimulation: Day 3, Day 7, Day 12, Day 17; Follow-up appointments: Day 18, Day 19, Day 20.
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Cognitive Dysfunction
Memory Disorders in Old Age

Explore related trials

Cognitive DysfunctionMild cognitive disorder

NCT04558164

Where you'd take part

This study runs at 1 site. They're the same protocol — you choose where, and that choice sets who your contact draft is addressed to.

  • University of California Los Angeles

    Los Angeles, Californiano site contact published

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

  • Andrew Leuchter, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of California, Los Angeles

Who to contact

This trial hasn't published a contact. View it on ClinicalTrials.gov

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Agreement to participate in the study
55-100 years of age
Right-handedness
In good general health
Living independently
Subjective memory complaints (self-report and positive score on MFQ)
Katz ADL scale and Lawton iADL scale: We will review scores on a case-by-case basis if they did not score 100%. We will exclude if the scores show impairment in ADLs that suggests problems with independent functioning due to cognitive impairment.
MMSE score \> 24
PHQ Depression score =\< 7
Ability to read, write, and speak English fluently
Diagnosis of mild neurocognitive disorder according to DSM-5 (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) criteria. Participants with subjective memory complaints without an aMCI diagnosis will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis based on neuropsychological scores. Participants scoring a raw score of 0 or 3 standard deviations below normative expectations on the long delay recall in two or more of the three tasks (BVMT-R, RCFT, and CVLT-III) will be excluded.
No change in use of psychotropic medication for treatment of depression, anxiety, ADHS or psychosis 1 month prior and during the study.

Exclusion

Unwilling or unable to provide informed consent
Diagnosis of dementia
Active major medical, psychiatric, or neurologic disorder associated with neurocognitive impairment
History of alcohol or substance abuse
Recent (\< 6 months) alcohol or substance abuse (excluding nicotine or caffeine)
History of stroke (if the stroke in our judgment is related to the memory problem), traumatic brain injury with loss of consciousness, or other neurologic disorder (e.g., epilepsy, Huntington's disease, Parkinson's disease)
Non-English speaking participants
Not right handed based on self-report or evaluation based on a standard report
Has received TMS before (not TMS naïve)
Poorly controlled hypertension or cardiovascular disease
Current enrollment in a memory-enhancement study or course
Contraindication to TMS or MRI including claustrophobia, metal in body, surgery within 60 days, certain implants, or previous abnormal MRI results.
scanning facial tattoos is okay if safe with MRI
is taking:
anticholinergic medication (e.g., Detrol, Cogentin);
sedating antihistamine (e.g., Benadryl);
any drug that has significant anticholinergic or antihistaminic side effects (e.g., tricyclic antidepressant medications, Remeron).
benzodiazepines. While not a strict rule out, this will be decided on a case-by-case basis depending on the dose.

What this trial measures

  • Verbal recall performance changeBaseline: Day 2; During stimulation: Day 3, Day 7, Day 12, Day 17; Follow-up appointments: Day 18, Day 19, Day 20.

    Verbal memory will be measured using a free recall task where participants learn a list of everyday words and are asked to recall as many words as they can remember after a period of distraction. Proportion of recollected words will be used to quantify memory performance changes.

  • Object recognition memory performance changeBaseline: Day 2; During stimulation: Day 3, Day 7, Day 12, Day 17; Follow-up appointments: Day 18, Day 19, Day 20.

    Object memory will be measured using an recognition task where participants view photos of everyday objects and are asked to identify them as OLD or NEW during a memory test wherein unseen novel objects and very similar but new photos of identical objects are shown. Recollection and discrimination index will be used to quantify memory performance changes.

  • Associative memory performance changeBaseline: Day 2; During stimulation: Day 3, Day 7, Day 12, Day 17; Follow-up appointments: Day 18, Day 19, Day 20.

    Associative memory will be tested using the Face Name Memory Test wherein participants are shown faces and associated names. Participants are then shown faces only and asked to recall the associated name.