rTMS Treatment of Primary Progressive Aphasia

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation in the Treatment of Primary Progressive Aphasia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a neurodegenerative disease in which language function is gradually and progressively impaired. Patients will eventually be disabled in communication and have cognition deficits, which put a heavy burden not only on their families but also on the whole society. However, no effective treatment for PPA has been explored so far. The current clinical randomized trial is to study the safety and efficacy of repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) for the treatment of PPA. Also, multi-modality of neuroimaging techniques, such as functional MRI and PET will be used to investigate brain network changing in this procedure.

The participants will be divided into the rTMS treatment group and the sham treatment group by means of randomized methods.The protocol of the treatment is to use rTMS with high frequency 10/20Hz 120%RMT 20 times for one month. The device is Magtism rTMS made in London, UK

The control group is to receive sham treatment. The device is the same as the one used in the real treatment group.

Assessment of the language production. Scores range from 0 to 30. Higher scores means better outcome.

Assessment of the language production. Scores range from 0 to 30. Higher scores means better outcome.

Assessment of the language production. Scores range from 0 to 20. Higher scores means better outcome.

Assessment of the language production. Scores range from 0 to 20. Higher scores means better outcome.

Assessment of the repetition ability. Scores range from 0 to 100. Higher scores means better outcome.

Assessment of the repetition ability. Scores range from 0 to 100. Higher scores means better outcome.

Functional Connectivity was examined using a seed-based voxel-wise correlation approach. The language related brain areas, such as Broca Area and Wernicke Area, were defined as the regions of interest (ROI). Pearson's correlation analysis between the time course of the ROI and that of every voxel in the whole brain was computed for a map of correlation coefficients, which were Fisher's z-transformed and called as z-FC maps. This outcome measurement, the z-FC map, is not numeric data. Z-FC map is a radiographic imaging measurement.

Functional Connectivity was examined using a seed-based voxel-wise correlation approach. The language related brain areas, such as Broca Area and Wernicke Area, were defined as the regions of interest (ROI). Pearson's correlation analysis between the time course of the ROI and that of every voxel in the whole brain was computed for a map of correlation coefficients, which were Fisher's z-transformed and called as z-FC maps. This outcome measurement, the z-FC map, is not numeric data. Z-FC map is a radiographic imaging measurement.

Inclusion Criteria: Clinical diagnosis of PPA Exclusion Criteria: Scored below 15 on the mini-mental state exam (MMSE) history of seizures or unexplained loss of consciousness pregnancy surgical breach of the skull MRI contraindication