Advantage of cerebellar intermittent theta-burst stimulation in Alzheimer's disease (ACT-AD): study protocol…

Abstract

Introduction: The cerebellum plays a crucial role in cognitive processing and thus presents a promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term, neuronavigated cerebellar intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) in patients with AD.

Methods and analysis: The ACT-AD trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study involving 100 participants with mild-to-moderate AD across 4 centers in China. Participants will be randomized to receive either cerebellar iTBS or sham stimulation for 4 weeks (daily sessions), followed by 8 weeks of weekly maintenance sessions. The primary outcome is the change in the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) score from baseline to week 12. Secondary outcomes include additional clinical scales. Exploratory outcomes include electroencephalogram (EEG), blood biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Statistical analysis will follow intention-to-treat principles using mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM).

Discussion: The ACT-AD trial will assess the efficacy and safety of long-term, neuronavigated cerebellar iTBS in treating patients with mild-to-moderate AD.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06669182. Registered on 31 October 2024.

Accelerated intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) for the upper limb recovery after subacute stroke (ATLAS): study protocol for a multicenter randomized controlled trial.
Hong Yang, Tian Shu, Chunyu Duan +6
Trials1 Jul 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textNeurologyEurope PMCDOAJ
Cerebellar Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation for Insomnia Disorder: A Randomized Sham‐Controlled Trial
Xin‐Yao Liu, Dong Dong, Chang‐Geng Song +9
CNS Neuroscience & Therapeutics1 Oct 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Full textNeurologyPMCEurope PMC
Accelerating tracheostomy decannulation with intermittent oro-esophageal feeding in neurogenic dysphagia: a multicenter randomized controlled trial.
Qing Li, Danhong Hu, Bo Yang +7
Critical care (London, England)4 Aug 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-NDFull textGeneral medicineEurope PMCPMC
Automated intermittent olfactory stimulation to reduce apnea in preterm infants: results of the PREMODEUR randomized clinical trial
Hélène Gauthier-Moulinier, Huu Kim An Nguyen, Claire Fischer +8
European Journal of Pediatrics11 Aug 2026Peer-reviewedPublisher termsFull textPhysiologyHAL
Personalized assistive EMG-controlled virtual reality interface combined with cerebellar-iTBS for post-stroke arm recovery (ERICA): study protocol for a three-arm randomized controlled trial
Matteo Nocilli, Alex Martino Cinnera, Danny Adrian Spampinato +5
Trials23 Oct 2026Peer-reviewedCC BY-NC-ND 4.0Clinical trials & evidence synthesisCrossref

Cite

BibTeX RIS

BibTeX

@article{zhang2026advantage,
  title = {{Advantage of cerebellar intermittent theta-burst stimulation in Alzheimer's disease (ACT-AD): study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial}},
  author = {Xin Zhang and Wen Li and Zhongqing Sun and Xiaomu Wang and Changgeng Song and Xiaorui Wang and Yinuo Niu and Dong Wei and Wei Zhang and Gejuan Zhang and Bei Zhang and Ling Wang and Zhirong Liu and Jingjing Zhao and Wen Jiang},
  journal = {Trials},
  year = {2026},
  month = oct,
  doi = {10.1186/s13063-026-10009-w},
  url = {https://link.springer.com/10.1186/s13063-026-10009-w},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}

RIS

TY  - JOUR
TI  - Advantage of cerebellar intermittent theta-burst stimulation in Alzheimer's disease (ACT-AD): study protocol for a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled trial
AU  - Xin Zhang
AU  - Wen Li
AU  - Zhongqing Sun
AU  - Xiaomu Wang
AU  - Changgeng Song
AU  - Xiaorui Wang
AU  - Yinuo Niu
AU  - Dong Wei
AU  - Wei Zhang
AU  - Gejuan Zhang
AU  - Bei Zhang
AU  - Ling Wang
AU  - Zhirong Liu
AU  - Jingjing Zhao
AU  - Wen Jiang
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/10/09
JO  - Trials
DO  - 10.1186/s13063-026-10009-w
UR  - https://link.springer.com/10.1186/s13063-026-10009-w
AB  - Introduction: The cerebellum plays a crucial role in cognitive processing and thus presents a promising therapeutic target for Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This trial aims to evaluate the efficacy and safety of long-term, neuronavigated cerebellar intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) in patients with AD.  Methods and analysis: The ACT-AD trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind, sham-controlled study involving 100 participants with mild-to-moderate AD across 4 centers in China. Participants will be randomized to receive either cerebellar iTBS or sham stimulation for 4 weeks (daily sessions), followed by 8 weeks of weekly maintenance sessions. The primary outcome is the change in the Clinical Dementia Rating Scale Sum of Boxes (CDR-SB) score from baseline to week 12. Secondary outcomes include additional clinical scales. Exploratory outcomes include electroencephalogram (EEG), blood biomarkers and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Statistical analysis will follow intention-to-treat principles using mixed models for repeated measures (MMRM).  Discussion: The ACT-AD trial will assess the efficacy and safety of long-term, neuronavigated cerebellar iTBS in treating patients with mild-to-moderate AD.  Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT06669182. Registered on 31 October 2024.
SN  - 1745-6215
ER  -

Abstract

Related

Cite