Quantitative and Repetitive TMS in ALS

Stage 1 [Enrolment closed]: The purpose of this stage is to evaluate the safety, feasibility, and changes in neuronal excitability biomarkers of accelerated repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) using continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) inhibitory paradigms over M1 in patients with ALS. Stage 2 [CURRENTLY ENROLLING]: The purpose of this study is to: 1. Assess the safety and feasibility of accelerated cTBS treatment with maintenance cTBS treatments in individuals with ALS over a 24-week period. 2. Assess changes in MR spectroscopy measures of glutamate and GABA, ATP and metabolites markers, and neuronal structure markers, changes in serum neurofilament light chain, and changes in corticohyperexcitability biomarkers measured by single and paired pulse quantitative TMS. 3. Assess the changes in ALSFRS-R and muscle strength dynamometry.

Inclusion Criteria:
- Diagnosis with ALS as per the 2020 Gold Coast Criteria;
- Age ≥ 18 years;
- Able to provide informed consent to study procedures and treatments;
- Patients are allowed to start or continue the standard of care treatments for ALS.
Presently these include oral riluzole, and oral or intravenous edaravone;
- Able to lie supine without BiPAP or breathing discomfort for at least 1 hour;
- No contraindications to TMS as follow;
- Metal implants in the head or neck (such as aneurysm clips, vessel stents),
implanted medication pump, implanted brain stimulators, pacemaker, cochlear
implants, or history of epilepsy. Dental fillings are permitted;
- Current use of medications or medical conditions that, at the discretion of the
Principal Investigator, could potentially increase the risk of seizures or interfere
with stage outcomes;
- On medications that affect TMS measures in a PRN regimen (as needed). Continuous use
of these medications on a fixed dose of 30 days prior to first Baseline Visit or
after a wash-out period of 2 weeks is accepted. These medications include, but are
not limited to: benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, tricyclic antidepressants,
selective and non-selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, hypnotics (including
anti-histamine drugs) and anticholinergics drugs;
- History of seizure, convulsion, or epilepsy;
Exclusion Criteria:
- Known diagnosis of dementia;
- Definitely or possibly pregnant (if applicable);
- History of allergy to Ag-AgCl electrode gel (standard neurophysiology electrodes);
- Unable to tolerate TMS procedures;
- Lack of MRI brain performed prior to the stage, inability to perform an MRI at
baseline due to orthopnea, or:
- Large body habitus and not fitting comfortably into the scanner;
- Difficulty laying still for up to 1 hour in the MRI unit or significant
claustrophobia;
- Metallic implants;
- Any contraindications for receiving rTMS treatment as follow:
- have received rTMS for any previous indication due to the potential compromise of
subject blinding;
- have increased intracranial pressure, a space occupying brain lesion, any history of
seizure except those therapeutically induced by ECT or a febrile seizure of infancy,
significant head trauma with clear radiological evidence of cerebrovascular injury
on imaging;
- have an intracranial implant or any other metal object within or near the head,
excluding the mouth, that cannot be safely removed;
- have clinically significant laboratory abnormality, in the opinion of the one of the
principal investigators or study physicians;
- are currently taking more than lorazepam 2 mg daily (or equivalent) or any dose of
an anticonvulsant due to the potential to limit rTMS efficacy;
- Any other clinical condition that, in the opinion of the Site Investigator, would
place the subject at increased risk or preclude the subject's full compliance with
completion of the stage.