dTMS for Subjective Cognitive Decline

Deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) is a brain stimulation technique that involves generating a brief magnetic field in a coil that is placed on the scalp. The magnetic field passes through the skull and induces a weak electrical current in the brain that briefly activates neural circuits at the stimulation site. The Brainsway dTMS H7-Coil is able to target an area of the brain that has been shown in studies to be linked to greater resilience to cognitive decline. In this study, the investigators will combine dTMS with cognitive training in older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and examine the effect of this treatment on memory, other cognitive abilities, and mood. In addition, the investigators will examine the combined effects of dTMS and cognitive training on brain activity as measured using electroencephalography (EEG). Approximately 30 older adults from ages 55 to 70 with SCD and a positive family history of Alzheimer's disease will be enrolled in this study.

This study will examine the effects of combining cognitive remediation with neurostimulation using deep transcranial magnetic stimulation (dTMS) and the H7-coil to target the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) in older adults at risk for developing Alzheimer's disease (AD). Thirty older adults with subjective cognitive decline (SCD) and a family history of AD will participate in a single-site randomized double-blind sham-controlled cross-over trial of dTMS of the ACC in conjunction with active cognitive remediation for both sham and dTMS interventions. The primary goal of the study is to establish the feasibility of dTMS and cognitive training as a means to improve cognitive abilities in SCD. Secondary goals are to obtain preliminary evidence of improvement in executive function and memory abilities following dTMS and cognitive training. This trial is a first step towards developing effective neurostimulation protocols to reduce cognitive decline in older adults at risk for developing AD.