Impact of rTMS on Abnormal Cortical fMRI in Patients With Dystonia
The Effect of Repetitive Trans-cranial Magnetic (rTMS) Stimulation on Abnormal Cortical Hubs Identified by Functional Magnetic Resonance in Subjects With Dystonia.
Northwell Health
10 participants
Mar 4, 2026
INTERVENTIONAL
Conditions
Summary
By tracking resting-state fMRI scans, we aim to discover how repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) changes brain connectivity in individuals with dystonia.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria4
- Male or female
- and 80 years of age.
- Patients who manifest dystonia - sustained involuntary movement of the head, neck, trunk or limbs.
- The dystonia may be spontaneous or genetic, specifically DYT1 or DYT6 and then only those patients who are demonstrating dystonia. The patient/subject will have a normal neurological exam except for dystonia.
Exclusion Criteria14
- Heredodegenrative dystonia of the type DYT8,9 or 10.
- Past history of head trauma, stroke, epilepsy, demyelinating disease
- Hypertension in excess of 160mmHg systolic and 90mmHg diastolic
- Congestive heart failure
- Diabetes
- Past psychiatric conditions: e.g., depression
- Systemic metabolic disease: e.g., Wilson's disease, progressive neurodegenerative disease (like supranuclear palsy or corticobasal ganglionic degeneration)
- Magnetizable incorporated metal parts - like pacemakers
- History or diagnosis of Parkinson's disease
- Presence of myoclonus
- No previous surgery for dystonia
- Long term exposure to benzodiazepines, neuroleptics or anticonvulsants
- No botulinum toxin within 12 weeks of baseline assessment and fMRI.
- Moderate to severe cognitive impairment (judged by a minimental status of <24.)
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Interventions
Continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS), a modified form of rTMS that mimics natural brain rhythms (theta 4-8Hz), can effectively inhibit the cortical hyperactivity in targeted hubs with shorter treatment times than traditional approaches. The rationale for this proposed pilot experiment is to combine advanced analysis of standard neuroimaging to refine target location for a test of whether the application of non-invasive rTMS (in the form of cTBS) modulates abnormal cortical regions or the entire brain network, or both, as these networks underlie dystonia. This pilot study will provide the basis for a controlled study to test the effectiveness and robustness of any positive influence that TMS might have on the patients' dystonia.
Locations(1)
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NCT07626216