The goal of this clinical trial is to test a new type of magnetic brain stimulation in patients with persistent post-concussive symptoms. Participants will undergo detailed MRI scans before and after 30 treatment sessions (of 3-10 minutes each). The main questions the study aims to answer are: * Will this new type of treatment result in fewer symptoms and better daily functioning? * What are the effects of this treatment on brain functioning?
Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) seems a promising treatment option for patients with persistent post-concussive symptoms (PPCS). Traditional rTMS sessions are relatively long in duration and can be exhaustive for patients with PPCS. Intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) is a newer and more rapid form of rTMS, which only takes up to 10 minutes per session. However, little is known about the effects of iTBS in patients with PPCS. Furthermore, there is a pressing need for methods that reliably measure the effects of TMS treatments in-vivo. Using diffusion magnetic resonance spectroscopy (dMRS) changes in neural and glial cell morphology can be quantified, which makes it possible to disentangle neurometabolic changes related to neural injury and neuroinflammation, two key elements in the pathophysiology of mTBI. In the current study, 15 patients with chronic (\>3 months after mTBI) PPCS will undergo a total of 30 iTBS sessions. After a baseline scan, patients will enter a 2-week control waitlist period. Following the waitlist control, a pre-treatment scan is acquired, followed by the stimulation sessions, and final post-treatment scan. The scanning protocol includes T1 and T2 imaging, dMRS, multi-shell diffusion MRI (dMRI), as well as a demanding executive function fMRI task, and resting-state fMRI (rs-fMRI). A comprehensive battery of clinical tests will be administered at all time points, which includes cognitive testing, self-report of symptoms and emotional distress. Long-term outcome is determined three months after start of the study. Specific study aims are: Aim 1: To determine the effects of a precision-medicine iTBS guided approach applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on clinical recovery in patients with PPCS relative to waitlist control. Aim 2: To determine the neurometabolic effects of iTBS in both the left and right DLPFC as measured with dMRS in patients with PPS, and to untangle differential effects on pathophysiological processes (e.g., neural plasticity vs. anti-inflammatory effects). Aim 3: To determine the relationship of these neurometabolic effects and the integrity of major frontoparietal white matter tracts (as measured with dMRI), as well as activation and functional connectivity of key large-scale cognitive and emotional networks (i.e., executive, default mode, and salience network), measured using task-based and resting-state fMRI.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
NA
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
15
3-10 minute sessions of brain stimulation applied to the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex, up to 10 sessions a day, 30 sessions in total, planned within 2 weeks.
The Mind Research Network
Albuquerque, New Mexico, United States
Post-concussive symptoms
Rivermead post concussion symptoms questionnaire (16 items, rated 0-4, higher number indicating more symptoms, max score of 64; decrease of the score means improvement of symptoms)
Time frame: Post-treatment (after completion of all sessions, at ~4 weeks), and at 3 months after start of the study for the individual participant. Data will be reported at the conclusion of the study for all participants.
Neurometabolite diffusion related to neuronal function and inflammation
As measured with diffusion MRS (diffusion of neurometabolites computed as the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC)).
Time frame: Post-treatment for the individual participant (~4 weeks). Data will be reported at the conclusion of the study for all participants.
Cognitive functioning
Neuropsychological test scores (attention measured using Stroop interference test: T scores, 0-100, higher scores indicating better performance; processing speed measured using the Symbol search test, also T-scores). Increase in score means clinical improvement.
Time frame: Post-treatment for the individual participant (~4 weeks). Data will be reported at the conclusion of the study for all participants.
Functional outcome
Glasgow Outcome Scale Extended (range 1-8, 1=dead, 8=complete recovery; increase in score means clinical improvement).
Time frame: At 3 months after start of the study for the individual participant. Data will be reported at the conclusion of the study for all participants.
Brain network functioning
As measured with advanced MRI (e.g., improvement on the multimodal attention task can be reflected by a change in percent signal change in the dorsolateral prefrontal cortices of the executive network, which can be either an increase or decrease).
Time frame: Post-treatment for the individual participant (~ 4 weeks). Data will be reported at the conclusion of the study for all participants.
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