Roflumilast TMS-EEG Plasticity

• Status: Not yet recruiting
• Trial end date: 2023-09-01
• Target enrollment: 0
• Participant gender: All

Summary

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) uses a magnetic field to non-invasively induce electrical function within the brain. Stimulation allows brain cells to change the way that they adapt and communicate with each other, known as 'synaptic plasticity'. It is thought that alterations in these adaptive brain changes underlie the ability of rTMS to treat mental illnesses like depression. rTMS is a Health Canada approved treatment for depression, however, 2/3rds of people fail to show meaningful improvement. This highlights the need for more effective therapeutic means. The purpose of the present study is to augment the therapeutic abilities of rTMS through the conjunctive use of a medication that also increases synaptic plasticity. We will pair TMS with an electroencephalograph (EEG) to measure activity dependent changes in the frontal cortex following rTMS.

• Phase: Phase 1
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers?: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Details

• Lead Sponsor: University of Calgary

Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

1. Healthy individuals (no chronic medical conditions).

2. Aged 18-60 years.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Pregnancy

2. Lactation

3. Epilepsy

4. Previous stroke

5. Current Renal Disease

6. Current Liver Disease

7. Allergy to roflumilast or any of its non-medicinal ingredients

8. Current psychiatric concerns

9. Currently taking any medications that interact with roflumilast

10. Intracranial metallic objects (dental hardware is not an exclusionary criterion)

11. Substance use disorder

12. The inability to refrain from alcohol use for 24 hours prior to stimulation