This study aims to evaluate the effects of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) and aerobic exercise on cognitive function and mental health in older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and comorbid depression. Forty-five participants will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) rTMS alone, (2) rTMS combined with stationary cycling exercise, or (3) sham rTMS combined with stationary cycling exercise. Participants will receive 20 intervention sessions over a 5-week period (4 sessions per week). Outcomes, including cognitive function, depressive symptoms, sleep quality, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, and gait performance, will be assessed at baseline, immediately after completion of the 5-week intervention, and at a 1-month follow-up. The findings may contribute to the development of evidence-based, non-pharmacological interventions for improving cognitive and mental health outcomes in older adults with MCI and comorbid depression.
Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a transitional stage between normal aging and dementia and is frequently accompanied by depressive symptoms. Older adults with MCI and comorbid depression are at increased risk of cognitive decline, functional impairment, reduced quality of life, and progression to dementia. Therefore, effective non-pharmacological interventions targeting both cognitive and mental health outcomes are needed. This study aims to investigate the effects of rTMS alone and rTMS combined with aerobic exercise on cognitive and mental health outcomes in older adults with MCI and comorbid depression. A randomized controlled trial design will be employed. Forty-five eligible participants who provide written informed consent will be randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) rTMS alone, (2) rTMS combined with stationary cycling exercise, and (3) sham rTMS combined with stationary cycling exercise. All participants will receive 20 intervention sessions over a 5-week intervention period (4 sessions per week). Intervention sessions will be conducted on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday. Participants in the rTMS-alone group will receive a 5-minute rTMS session only. Participants in the rTMS combined with stationary cycling exercise group and the sham rTMS combined with stationary cycling exercise group will receive either active or sham rTMS for 5 minutes, followed by 30 minutes of stationary cycling exercise. The stimulation target will be the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC). For sham stimulation, a figure-of-eight coil will be positioned with one wing angled at 90 degrees relative to the scalp and maintained approximately 3 cm from the scalp surface to mimic the sensory experience of active stimulation while minimizing effective cortical stimulation. Outcome assessments will be conducted at baseline, immediately after completion of the 5-week intervention period, and at a 1-month follow-up. Outcome measures will include cognitive function, depressive symptoms, sleep quality, life satisfaction, self-efficacy, and gait performance. Each assessment session is expected to require approximately 45 minutes. The findings may provide evidence supporting the application of combined neuromodulation and aerobic exercise interventions for improving cognitive and mental health outcomes in older adults with MCI and comorbid depression.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
45
Active repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is delivered over the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) using a figure-of-eight coil. Participants receive stimulation sessions 4 times per week for 5 weeks (20 sessions total).
Participants perform 30 minutes of moderate-intensity stationary cycling exercise immediately following rTMS or sham rTMS sessions. Exercise sessions are conducted 4 times per week for 5 weeks (20 sessions total).
Sham stimulation is delivered using a figure-of-eight coil positioned at a 90-degree angle relative to the scalp and approximately 3 cm away from the scalp surface to mimic the sensory and auditory experience of active stimulation without producing effective cortical activation. Participants receive sham stimulation sessions 4 times per week for 5 weeks (20 sessions total).
Cheng Hsin General Hospital
Taipei, Taipei City, Taiwan
RECRUITINGMontreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA)
Changes in global cognitive function measured using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA). Higher scores indicate better cognitive performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15)
Changes in depressive symptoms measured using the Geriatric Depression Scale-15 (GDS-15). Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptom severity.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)
Changes in sleep quality measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Lower scores indicate better sleep quality.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Trail Making Test Part A (TMT-A)
Changes in attention and processing speed measured using the Trail Making Test Part A. Shorter completion times indicate better performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Trail Making Test Part B (TMT-B)
Shorter completion times indicate better executive functioning and cognitive flexibility.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
California Verbal Learning Test-Short Form (CVLT-SF)
Changes in verbal learning and memory measured using the California Verbal Learning Test-Short Form (CVLT-SF). Higher scores indicate better verbal learning and memory performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Stroop Color-Word Test
Changes in executive function, selective attention, and inhibitory control measured using the Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT). Performance is assessed as the number of correct responses completed within 1 minute. Higher scores indicate better executive function, selective attention, and inhibitory control.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Digit Span Forward Test
Changes in attention span and immediate verbal memory measured using the Digit Span Forward Test. Higher scores indicate better attention and short-term memory performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Digit Span Backward Test
Changes in working memory and executive function measured using the Digit Span Backward Test. Higher scores indicate better working memory performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II)
Higher scores indicate greater depressive symptom severity.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
EuroQol Five-Dimension Five-Level Questionnaire Index Score (EQ-5D-5L Index)
Changes in health-related quality of life measured using the EuroQol Five-Dimension Five-Level Questionnaire Index Score (EQ-5D-5L Index). Higher scores indicate better health-related quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF)
Changes in quality of life measured using the World Health Organization Quality of Life-BREF (WHOQOL-BREF). Higher scores indicate better quality of life.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Chinese Aging Well Profile (CAWP)
Changes in subjective well-being measured using the Chinese Aging Well Profile (CAWP). Higher scores indicate better subjective well-being.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Timed Up and Go Test (TUG)
Changes in functional mobility measured using the Timed Up and Go Test (TUG). Participants are instructed to stand up from a chair, walk 3 meters, turn around, walk back, and sit down. Shorter completion times indicate better functional mobility and balance performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale Score (EQ-VAS)
Changes in self-rated health status measured using the EuroQol Visual Analogue Scale (EQ-VAS). Higher scores indicate better perceived health status.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Dual-task gait speed (m/s)
Changes in dual-task gait speed measured in meters per second (m/s). Higher values indicate better gait performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Dual-task cadence (steps/min)
Changes in dual-task cadence measured in steps per minute. Higher values indicate better gait performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Dual-task stride length (m)
Changes in dual-task stride length measured in meters. Higher values indicate better gait performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Dual-task cost (%)
Percentage change in gait performance during dual-task walking relative to single-task walking.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Single-task gait speed (m/s)
Walking speed during single-task walking, measured in meters per second.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Single-task cadence (steps/min)
Higher values indicate better gait performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
Single-task stride length (m)
Higher values indicate better gait performance.
Time frame: Baseline through 1-month follow-up (assessed at baseline, immediately after the 5-week intervention, and 1 month after intervention completion)
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