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Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) for Apathy in Parkinson's Disease

This study is exploring if a non-invasive brain stimulation called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) can help with apathy, or motivation problems, in people with Parkinson's Disease. TMS uses a magnetic pulse applied to the scalp and is already approved for other brain conditions. Researchers want to see if TMS changes how people with Parkinson's perform effort tasks and if there's a link between brain signals and apathy. You might be able to join if you are 55-80 years old, have had Parkinson's for at least 4 years, and are on stable Parkinson's medications. The study will measure changes in goal-directed behavior and how you evaluate rewards shortly after TMS. The current status of this study is unclear, and it aims to enroll 100 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study, meaning participants will receive a specific treatment (TMS). Researchers will compare two different stimulation locations to see their effects.
What's involved
You would have 3 study visits. The first visit is 2-3 hours, and the other two visits are about 3 hours each, separated by at least 3 weeks. You will complete questionnaires, perform an effort task, have your brain activity recorded with an EEG, and receive TMS.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Changes in behavior and reward evaluation will be measured immediately before and 15 minutes after stimulation during visits 2 and 3.

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

NCT06087926

Apathy in Parkinson Disease TMS Study

Recruiting
NAAges 55–80InterventionalBasic science
University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
~100 participants
Updated 2026-07-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in goal-directed behavior after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
Measured over Immediately before stimulation and 15 minutes after stimulation.
+1 more outcome measured

Conditions

Parkinson Disease

Explore related trials

ApathyParkinson Disease

NCT06087926

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.

  • UNC-Chapel Hill, Cassidy Lab

    Chapel Hill, North Carolinastudy coordinator listed

    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

  • Miriam Sklerov, MD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Who to contact

Cole Shumate
[email protected]
919-445-0979
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

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Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Diagnosis of idiopathic Parkinson Disease.
At least 4 years of symptoms.
On dopaminergic medication for Parkinson Disease.
Stable on dopaminergic medication and other medications which may influence apathy (such as selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors, stimulant medications) for at least 4 weeks prior to first study visit and remain stable throughout the study period.
Hospital's study-specific informed consent must be obtained.
Must have capacity to provide informed consent in English.
For female participants, confirmation that they have not had a menstrual period in over 12 months, or that they will use an effective form of contraception during the study.

Exclusion

Inability to provide informed consent.
Inability to perform effort task (determined during the titration session).
Presence of dementia (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score \< 21).
History of epilepsy or brain surgery.
Severe tremor or dyskinesia that would interfere with EEG (determined by the PI).
Patients with clinically significant medical or neurological conditions which may be an alternative cause of parkinsonism such as repeated brain injury, anti-dopaminergic medications, anoxic brain injury, or significant basal ganglia strokes.
Presence of other known central nervous system disease that may interfere with performance or interpretation of EEG or TMS.
Presence of any implanted metal devices including, but not limited to, pacemakers, deep brain stimulators, vagal nerve stimulators, bladder stimulators, or cochlear implants.
Presence of medical contraindications to TMS such as implanted stimulators, history of mania or bipolar disorder, history of epilepsy.

What this trial measures

  • Change in goal-directed behavior after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)Immediately before stimulation and 15 minutes after stimulation.

    Differences in the degree of change in goal-directed behavior after brain stimulation at each site (medial prefrontal cortex or control site). Goal-directed behavior will be determined using the streamlined version of the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task (S-EEfRT). In the S-EEfRT, participants choose to complete either a "Hard" task or an "Easy" task for variable monetary incentives.

  • Change in reward evaluation after transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)Immediately before stimulation and 15 minutes after stimulation.

    Differences in the degree of change in reward evaluation after brain stimulation at each site (medial prefrontal cortex or control site). Reward evaluation will be determined using the streamlined version of the Expenditure of Effort for Reward Task (S-EEfRT). In the S-EEfRT, participants choose to complete either a "Hard" task or an "Easy" task for variable monetary incentives.