NCT05953415

pBFS-guided iTBS Over the Left DLPFC for Chronic PSCI

Personalized Brain Functional Sectors (pBFS) Guided Intermittent Theta-Burst Stimulation (iTBS) Therapy for Chronic Post-Stroke Cognitive Impairment (PSCI): A Randomized, Double-Blind, Sham-Controlled Trial

• Status: Recruiting
• Phase: N/A
• Study type: Interventional
• Enrollment: 60 (estimated)
• Sponsor: Changping Laboratory · Academic / Other
• Sex: All
• Age: 35 Years – 75 Years
• Healthy volunteers: Not accepted

Summary

The study aims to investigate the efficacy and safety of intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) guided by the personalized Brain Functional Sector (pBFS) technique in the treatment of patients with chronic post-stroke cognitive impairment.

Detailed description

Cognitive impairment, characterized by memory loss, attention and executive functional impairment, is a common complication following stroke. Intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) is a non-invasive neuromodulation technique that applies pulsed magnetic fields to the cerebral cortex, inducing changes in local or distal neural activity and promoting cognitive function. By employing the personalized Brain Functional Segmentation (pBFS) technique, individualized brain functional networks can be precisely identified based on resting-state functional MRI scans. Within the executive function network, a specific region of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) will be selected as the intervention target. Participants will be randomly assigned to two groups at 1:1 ratio: the active group and the sham group. The stimulation will be administered using a figure-of-8 coil with the assist of a real-time neuronavigation system. Two sessions of 1800 pulses will be applied, totaling 3600 pulses per day, with at least 50-minute interval period between sessions for both groups. The sham stimulation will be administered using a sham coil that mimics the sound and appearance of the active stimulation coil but does not deliver actual stimulation. The intervention will be administered on weekdays, over a period of 3 weeks, totaling 15 treatment days.

Conditions

• Chronic Stroke
• Cognitive Impairment

Interventions

Type	Name	Description
DEVICE	active iTBS	Participants in this group will receive two sessions of 1800-pulse active stimulation per day, with an intersession interval of at least 50 minutes. The stimulation will be administered on workdays over a period of 3 weeks, totaling 15 days.
DEVICE	sham iTBS	Participants in this group will receive two sessions of 1800-pulse sham stimulation per day, with an intersession interval of at least 50 minutes. The stimulation will be comprehensively mimic the active condition, and also administered on workdays over a period of 3 weeks, totaling 15 days.

Timeline

• Start date: 2023-08-18
• Primary completion: 2025-07-01
• Completion: 2025-10-01
• First posted: 2023-07-20
• Last updated: 2025-06-06

Locations

1 site across 1 country: China