Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41691694›Full record

Trial reportCurrent neuropharmacology2026

Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Alters Brain Communication Networks to Improve the Cognitive Function in Patients with Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment - A Clinical Trial.

Zhiyuan Yang, Moran Tangli, Yi Tan, Haojie Chen, Ni Shu, Zhihong Ke, Zheqi Hu, Qing Ye, Hailan Meng, Haifeng Chen and 1 more

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Current neuropharmacology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors.

Zhiyuan YangDepartment of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Moran TangliDepartment of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Yi TanDepartment of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Haojie ChenState Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
Ni ShuState Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning & IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China.
Zhihong KeNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.
Zheqi HuDepartment of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Qing YeDepartment of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Hailan MengDepartment of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.
Haifeng ChenNanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China.
Yun XuDepartment of Neurology, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China.

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 81920108017,821015397,81920108017,82471217,82130036,82130036,81920108017,821015397,81920108017,821015397,82130036Natural Science Foundation of Jiangsu Province BK20221170
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

introductionRepetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) is a non-invasive intervention that could effectively enhance the cognitive function in patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI). However, the mechanism and predictive biomarkers for therapeutic response remain poorly understood.

methodsFifty-three aMCI patients underwent either neuro-navigated rTMS (n=28) or sham stimulation (n=25) targeting the left angular gyrus over four weeks (registered in 2021: ChiCTR2100050496). Multimodal MRI and comprehensive neuropsychological assessments were conducted pre- and postintervention. Changes in brain communication networks and their correlation with cognitive improvements were analysed, with random forest models applied to predict treatment efficacy.

resultsEpisodic memory (p<0.001) and general cognitive function (p<0.05) of aMCI patients were significantly improved after intervention. Novel alterations in brain communications networks were identified in 5 sensorimotor areas, executive control regions, and emotion-cognition processing hubs. Communication alterations between the right precentral gyrus and right angular gyrus were positively correlated with the improvements in episodic memory (r=0.38, p=0.046), while the alterations between right precentral gyrus and right angular gyrus were negatively correlated with improvements in general cognitive function (MMSE, r=-0.44, p=0.019; MoCA, r=-0.43, p=0.024). Notably, the random forest model integrating communication network patterns with baseline demographic and neuropsychological data showed strong power in predicting rTMS effects. DISCUSSION: These findings advance understanding of rTMS mechanisms by linking network plasticity to cognitive gains, addressing critical knowledge gaps.

conclusionNeuro-navigated rTMS targeting the left angular gyrus may enhance cognitive function in aMCI patients by improving inter-brain regions communication. Baseline communication patterns hold promise as predictive biomarkers, facilitating personalized treatment strategies.

Indexed as

AmnesiaBrainCognitionCognitive DysfunctionNerve NetTranscranial Magnetic StimulationAgedCognitive EnhancementFemaleHumansMagnetic Resonance ImagingMaleMiddle AgedNeuropsychological TestsTreatment OutcomeAlzheimer’s diseaseAmnestic mild cognitive impairmentbrain communication networkdiffusion tensor imagingrandom forest modelsrepetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation

Identifiers

PMID41691694
PMCPMC13647718

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.