A new clinical trial has found that a common brain stimulation technique may help slow down cognitive and functional decline in people with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
The study, led by researchers at the Santa Lucia Foundation IRCCS and published in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy, found that 52 weeks of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the brain’s precuneus region led to better outcomes than a placebo (sham) treatment.
Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive brain disorder that affects memory, thinking, and the ability to carry out daily tasks.
There are currently no cures, and while existing treatments can help with symptoms, their effects are often modest and short-lived.
That’s why researchers are looking for new ways to slow or even reverse the disease’s progression.
In this study, researchers used rTMS, a non-invasive technique that sends magnetic pulses to specific brain areas. It’s already used to treat conditions like depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder.
The team focused on the precuneus, a region involved in memory and self-awareness, and one of the first areas of the brain affected by Alzheimer’s-related damage such as amyloid plaques, loss of brain tissue, and disrupted brain networks.
Previous shorter trials had suggested that rTMS could help slow down memory loss and support daily functioning. This new study extended the treatment duration to a full year to see whether longer-term stimulation could have stronger or more lasting effects.
The trial included 48 participants with mild-to-moderate Alzheimer’s. Twenty-seven received real rTMS, while 21 received sham treatment. About two-thirds of participants had also taken part in a previous 24-week study, while the rest were newly enrolled. The treatment involved an initial two-week intensive phase followed by weekly maintenance sessions.
Each session used a personalized approach with brain imaging (TMS-EEG) to target the stimulation precisely.
The results showed that patients receiving rTMS experienced slower decline across all major outcomes:
- On the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale–Sum of Boxes, those in the rTMS group worsened by an average of 1.36 points compared to 2.45 points in the sham group.
- On a measure of daily functional abilities, the rTMS group’s scores dropped by 1.5 points, while the sham group’s dropped by 11.6 points.
- Cognitive function, as measured by the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale–Cognitive Subscale, worsened by 5.9 points in the rTMS group and 10.4 points in the sham group (higher scores mean worse performance).
- Mini Mental State Examination scores declined by only 1.1 points with rTMS, versus 3.9 points in the sham group.
- Behavioral symptoms, including apathy, euphoria, and appetite changes, improved more in the rTMS group.
The treatment was generally well tolerated. Side effects like mild headaches or scalp discomfort were reported in both groups and resolved on their own. About 68% of participants completed the study; most dropouts were due to COVID-19-related disruptions rather than the treatment itself.
Interestingly, people whose brains had stronger connectivity within the default mode network (a key brain circuit disrupted in Alzheimer’s) responded better to rTMS. This suggests that brain scans could help doctors predict who will benefit most from this therapy.
In conclusion, this study adds to growing evidence that rTMS—especially when targeted to the precuneus—could offer a safe, non-invasive way to slow Alzheimer’s progression. It not only appeared to preserve thinking skills but also helped patients maintain their ability to carry out daily activities and reduced common behavioral symptoms.
If confirmed in larger studies, this approach could reduce caregiver burden and improve quality of life during the early stages of the disease.
Researchers say the next step is to test this technique in larger, multi-site studies and to explore whether combining rTMS with medication could boost its effects even further.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about Vitamin D deficiency linked to Alzheimer’s, vascular dementia, and Oral cannabis extract may help reduce Alzheimer’s symptoms.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
The research findings can be found in Alzheimer’s Research & Therapy.
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