Examining the Effects of Theta Burst TMS on Brain Connectivity and Balance Ability in Older Adults With Balance Problems

Falls and fall-related injuries are a growing public health concern, particularly in regions of the world in which high proportions of the population are elderly. When these older adults are affected with neurological conditions such as stroke, neuropathies, Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, the risk for falls increases more than 3-fold. Falls and the resulting fear of falls can mark the beginning of a decline in function, participation in social activities, and independence, thus negatively affecting the quality of life.

The aim of this project is to use electroencephalography-guided TMS to improve balance in elderly patients with a history of falls, through repair of (or compensation for) abnormal brain connectivity. The entire study will be done at the University of Houston in Dr. Parikh's laboratory (PI) in the Center for Neuromotor and Biomechanics laboratory (CNBR).

The investigators will enroll 30 older adults with balance problems. Participants will be randomly and equally assigned to a treatment group (A) and a placebo (sham) group (B). Each participant will undergo a MRI scan at the MRI center. Participants will not be responsible for MRI-related costs. This will be followed by baseline assessments of brain connectivity using electroencephalography (EEG) and balance assessment. Participants in both groups will receive a 4-week long intervention (once daily, 5 days a week). Immediately following the intervention period, EEG and balance assessments will be repeated. A 3-month follow-up will be conducted.

Inclusion criteria

a) Able to provide informed consent b) All ethnic groups c) >65 years of age d) ≥2 non-injury falls or ≥1 injury fall in the past year [17]-[21] e) Absence of dementia/uncontrolled psychiatric disorder h) Able to walk and stand for 5 min continuously independently without assistance (i.e., cane, walker, ankle foot orthotics, electric scooter).

i) Willingness to undergo MRI, participate in the 4-weeks intervention AND in the laboratory studies before, immediately-after, and 3-month after the intervention.

Exclusion criteria

• Inability to provide informed consent.
• Non-English speaking.
• Have contraindications to TMS based on TMS Adult Safety Screen (e.g., pregnancy, metal in the brain/skull, neurostimulator, pacemaker, infusion device, medication to treat mental illness)
• Unintentional weight loss of ≥10 pounds over the past year.
• Severe uncontrolled hypertension, or uncontrolled diabetes.
• Poor cognitive status (Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) score ≥ 26)
• Untreated depression or Geriatric Depression Scale score on 15 item scale >7
• History of limb amputation (upper or lower extremity)
• Planned surgery in the next 3 months.
• History of chemotherapy or planned chemotherapy in the next 6 months or active malignancy.
• Severe osteoporosis, defined by diagnosis of osteoporosis with fracture.
• Pregnant or have a chance of being pregnant.
• Chronic inflammatory condition, autoimmune disease or infectious processes such as active tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus, Rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, acute or chronic hepatitis B or C.
• Illicit drug use
• Use of medications that may increase the risk of falling:

• Sedatives
• Hypnotics
• Anti-cholinergic
• Benzodiazepines
• Anti-depressants
• Intracranial bleeds visible on their most recent CT or MRI scans.