Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease: A randomized placebo-controlled double-blind clinical trial.

We report results of a large multisite double-blind randomized trial investigating the short and long-term efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) at mild to moderate stages, in doses of either 2 or 4 weeks of treatment (5 days/week), whilst compared with 4 weeks of sham rTMS. Randomization to treatment group was stratified based on age and severity. The objectives of this study were to: 1) investigate the efficacy of active rTMS versus sham, 2) investigate the effect of dose of treatment (2 or 4 weeks), and 3) investigate the length of benefits from treatment.

Repeated Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Improving Cognition in Patients With Alzheimer Disease: Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial.

Background: Alzheimer disease has no known cure. As existing pharmacologic interventions only modestly slow cognitive decline, there is a need for new treatments. Recent trials of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) have reported encouraging results for improving or stabilizing cognition in patients diagnosed with Alzheimer dementia.