High-frequency rTMS on left parietal lobe may improve memory scores in post-stroke patients

A randomized controlled trial investigated the effects of 20 Hz high-frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to the left parietal lobe in 45 patients with post-stroke memory impairment. The active intervention was compared to a sham stimulation control group. The study did not explicitly report a primary outcome, duration of follow-up, or the study phase.

The rTMS group showed greater improvement in Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) scores from baseline compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The active treatment group also demonstrated higher scores on the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) delayed recall (p < 0.05) and the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) delayed recall (p < 0.05) relative to controls. Furthermore, resting-state functional connectivity, measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS), was significantly enhanced within the prefrontal lobe and between the left prefrontal and right occipital lobes in the rTMS group (p < 0.05). The study did not report specific effect sizes, confidence intervals, or absolute numerical changes for these outcomes.

Critical limitations constrain the interpretation of these results. The sample size was small (n=45), and the study did not report any data on adverse events, serious adverse events, tolerability, or discontinuation rates. Effect sizes and confidence intervals were not provided, limiting the assessment of clinical significance. The absence of a specified primary outcome, long-term follow-up data, and details on funding or conflicts of interest are additional shortcomings. While the findings suggest an association between the intervention and improved cognitive metrics, the study design does not establish definitive causation.