NCT06982638: TMS

Accelerated TMS for Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease

Recruiting now NA Last updated 7 January 2026

What this trial tests

NA trial testing TMS+ Gait training in Parkinson's Disease (PD) in 12 participants. Currently enrolling.

Timeline

21 November 2024

Primary endpoint
31 December 2026

31 December 2026

Quick facts

Lead sponsor	Medical University of South Carolina
Phase	NA
Status	Recruiting now
Study type	INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation	na
Design	single group
Masking	none
Primary purpose	other
Enrollment	12
Start date	21 November 2024
Primary completion	31 December 2026
Estimated completion	31 December 2026
Sites	1 location across United States

Drugs / interventions tested

• TMS+ Gait training

Conditions studied

• Parkinson's Disease (PD) — all drugs for Parkinson's Disease (PD) →

Sponsor

Medical University of South Carolina

Who can join

Adults 50 to 80, any sex, with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Patients with the condition only — healthy volunteers not accepted.

Sponsor's own description

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether a personalized brain stimulation method called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), combined with walking exercises, is a practical and tolerable approach to help people with Parkinson's disease who experience freezing of gait (FOG). FOG is a disabling symptom where people temporarily feel stuck and unable to start walking, even though they want to move.

The main questions this study aims to answer are:

Can people with Parkinson's disease and FOG tolerate this combined rTMS and walking training procedure?

Can researchers successfully enroll and retain participants for this multi-visit intervention?

Does the combination of rTMS and gait training show early signs of improving gait and reducing freezing episodes?

This study does not include a comparison or placebo group. All participants will receive the same intervention.

Participants will:

Attend up to 15 study visits over about 16 weeks, with the option to combine visits to reduce burden.

Complete brain imaging (MRI) before and after the intervention to guide and evaluate treatment.

Receive a form of brain stimulation (rTMS) using a safe, non-invasive coil placed over a specific part of the brain called the supplementary motor area (SMA). The target is personalized using each person's MRI data.

Participate in walking exercises that include cognitive tasks (dual-task gait training) after each set of brain stimulation sessions.

Undergo assessments of walking ability, Parkinson's disease symptoms, and brain response to stimulation.

Be videotaped during walking tasks to assess gait changes, while wearing small motion sensors on the body.

Complete questionnaires about symptoms, safety, and tolerability.

This study is being conducted at the Medical University of South Carolina (MUSC) and includes up to 15 adults between the ages of 50 and 80 who have been diagnosed with Parkinson's disease and experience FOG.

Although rTMS is already FDA-cleared for depression and other conditions, it has not been approved for freezing of gait, and its use in this study is considered investigational. The stimulation device used has been determined to be non-significant risk (NSR) by the FDA.

The study does not offer direct medical benefit to participants, but results from this trial may help researchers develop future treatments and better understand how brain stimulation affects walking difficulties in Parkinson's disease.

Participation is voluntary, and individuals can withdraw from the study at any time without affecting their medical care

Publications & conference data

No peer-reviewed publications indexed yet for this trial.