Safety and Tolerability of Low Motoneuron Stimulation Via Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in Spinal Muscular Atrophy
Charitable Foundation Children with Spinal Muscular Atrophy
20 participants
May 19, 2025
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
There is a general physiological rule that any organ or system needs some minimal amount of activity to prevent its atrophy or degeneration. Although the relevance of that rule to exercises in neuromuscular patients and for SMA in particular is not definitely proven, clinical observations seem to support this assumption. Also there are several experimental studies which provide additional support for utility of exercise for SMA. However, making regular exercises may be very challenging with SMA not only due to physical limitations, but due to psychological either. While being considered as safe and well tolerated intervention, TMS is able to mimic effects of real physical exercises, at least at the level of low motoneuron, it also provides several advantages. For example, possibility to exercise non-collaborative infants, minimization of psychological motivation impact in adults and/or ability to involve very weak muscle groups.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria3
- Subject has a diagnosis of 5q-autosomal recessive SMA confirmed by DNA test.
- Informed consent.
- A minimum score of 1 for Entry Item "A" of the Revised Upper Limb Module (RULM) scale for SMA: "Can use hands to hold pencil or pick up a coin/token or drive a powered chair, use phone key pad"
Exclusion Criteria3
- Subject has severe joint contractures that would affect ability to perform study measures, determined by the study physician.
- Subject has a deconditioned respiratory system, per the discretion of the physician investigator.
- Subject has behavioral or cognitive problems that preclude participation in the study, in the opinion of the investigator.
Interested in this trial?
Get notified about updates and connect with the research team.
Interventions
High-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation targeting the primary motor cortex (M1) of the limbs, delivered at a frequency above 5 Hz and an intensity of 90-100% of the resting motor threshold, across 10 sessions with up to 2400 stimuli per session, is a standard intervention used in various neurological disorders. However, its effects have not been studied in patients with spinal muscular atrophy (SMA).
Cerebrospinal fluid sampling to measure SMN protein and neurofilament concentrations before and after the TMS intervention.
Locations(1)
View Full Details on ClinicalTrials.gov
For the most up-to-date information, visit the official listing.
NCT06977269