TMS in Primary Progressive Aphasia: Modulation of Brain Networks and Language

• Principal Investigator: Alexandra Touroutoglou, PhD
• Sponsors: National Institutes of Health (NIH)
• Conditions Studied: Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA)

In this research study we want to learn more about the effects of non-invasive brain stimulation on language and brain-network function in patients with loss of language ability due selective loss of brain function. This condition or loss of language capability is known as primary progressive aphasia or PPA.

This study will use a form of brain stimulation called repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS). rTMS will slightly alter activity in an area of your brain that controls language. Changes resulting from this stimulation will be measured with behavioral tests of language and general cognition, as well as by taking images of your brain with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).

You will come in for one baseline visit followed by 2 sets of 2 consecutive full weeks of daily rTMS study visits (4 weeks of rTMS total). There will be at least a 2-week break between the sets.

The baseline visit will involve an MRI scan. During the weeks of rTMS study visits you will undergo rTMS every day: Monday through Friday. During rTMS you will also perform a computerized language task. On the first Mondays of the two-week set, you will also undergo cognitive testing and an MRI, and on the last Fridays of the two-week set, you will also undergo cognitive testing and an MRI.

Baseline visits will last approximately 2 hours. The Monday visits at the start of the two weeks of rTMS will last approximately 5 hours. The Friday visits at the end of the two weeks of rTMS will last approximately 5 hours. All other study visit days will last approximately one hour.

If you are interested in learning more about this research study, please contact Courtney Sullivan (courtney.sullivan@mgh.harvard.edu)