rTMS for Apathy Clinical Trial

Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre10 enrolled

Overview

Apathy is a common, early, and disabling symptom in dementias and mild behavioural impairment such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and is characterized by lack of interest and enthusiasm. Both repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), a form of non-invasive brain stimulation, and methylphenidate, a medication, have been shown to improve apathy. This pilot study will investigate rTMS as a treatment for apathy in neurocognitive disorders and mild behavioural impairment in individuals receiving methylphenidate and individuals not receiving medication for apathy.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

NON_RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Enrollment

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease Apathy in Dementia Dementia Mild Behavioural Impairment Mild Cognitive Impairment

Eligibility

Sex: ALL

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * mild or major neurocognitive disorder OR mild behavioural impairment * Apathy for at least 4 weeks * Stable dose of medication (\>4 weeks) that may affect cognition or behaviour * Care partner who spends at least 10 hours a week with the subject Exclusion Criteria: * Current major depressive episode * Agitation, delusions, hallucination * Medical contraindications to rTMS * Currently taking an amphetamine product * Central nervous system abnormalities, Tourette's syndrome, or motor tics * Current participation in another clinical trial

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Neuropsychiatric Inventory-apathy

Measure of apathy on a scale from 0 to 12 with a higher score indicating greater apathy

Time frame: 2 weeks