Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, a Form of Non-invasive Brain Stimulation, as a Possible Treatment for Post-stroke Fatigue
Sponsored by VA Office of Research and Development
About this study
This experimental trial is investigating the use of magnetic stimulation of the brain as a possible treatment for post-stroke fatigue in people who have had a stroke more than six months prior to enrolling. Fatigue is a common condition after a stroke and can negatively impact an individual's ability to perform desired social and physical activities. Magnetic stimulation of the brain has been shown to improve signs and symptoms of related psychological (e.g., depression) conditions. Participants in this trial will receive a type of magnetic stimulation called repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation, or rTMS. The investigators will measure feelings of fatigue and other clinical characteristics related to mood and cognition before and after participants receive rTMS.
The PI for this trial transferred to the Atlanta VA Medical Center in Feb 2026. As a result, the trial was suspended at the original site and moved to the Atlanta area. Additional changes accompanying the site transfer include removing one arm of the study (an active comparator), leaving two arms: one with the active treatment and the other with a sham treatment. Eligibility criteria were also updated to be more ecologically relevant. Ethical approvals for the new site, Atlanta, were provided by the Emory University IRB.
Where this study is enrolling (2)
- I'm interested
Atlanta VA Medical and Rehab Center, Decatur, GA
Decatur, Georgia
- I'm interested
Ralph H. Johnson VA Medical Center
Charleston, South Carolina
Who can participate
Inclusion criteria
- ✓More than 6 months post-stroke
- ✓Clinically present fatigue
Exclusion criteria
- ✕Contraindications to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)/transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)/repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), e.g., implanted metal within the head, history of seizures
- ✕Inability to follow simple three-step instructions
- ✕Diagnosed comorbid neurological conditions (e.g. multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, moderate/severe traumatic brain injury (TBI)
- ✕Pregnancy
- ✕Strokes within stimulation sites
- ✕Pregnancy
- ✕Severe hypertension (resting systolic blood pressure (SBP) \> 200, DBP \> 120)
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Trial data sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov.