Cortical Inhibition in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Launched by ASSIUT UNIVERSITY · Aug 15, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how a part of the brain and spinal cord communication, called corticospinal inhibition, relates to symptoms and brain changes in people with multiple sclerosis (MS). The researchers want to understand if this brain activity is connected to physical symptoms, mental health, thinking abilities, and changes seen in MRI scans of the brain. This could help doctors better understand MS and how it affects the nervous system.

People who might join the study are adults aged 18 or older who have a specific type of MS called relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS). They should have a mild to moderate level of disability and either be on a stable treatment for MS or not have used treatment before. Participants need to be free from recent MS attacks or steroid treatments and able to complete thinking and memory tests. The study will not include people with other brain or mental health conditions, those with certain medical devices that prevent MRI or brain stimulation tests, or those with severe vision, movement, or thinking problems. If you join, you can expect to have brain scans and tests that measure brain and nerve activity, along with some assessments of your thinking and symptoms. The study is not yet recruiting but aims to provide insights into how brain function relates to MS symptoms and brain changes.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Age 18 years or older.
• • 2. Diagnosis of RRMS based on the 2017 McDonald Criteria.
• • 3. Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score ≤ 6.5.
• • 4. On a stable dose of disease-modifying therapy (DMT) for at least 3 months or naeive patients not use DMT before
• • 5. Free of relapses or steroids treatment (at least 3 months after a relapse or corticosteroid therapy)
• • 6. Ability to give informed consent and complete neuropsychological assessments.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • 1. Presence of other neurological or psychiatric disorders (e.g., major depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia).
• • 2. History of alcohol or substance abuse.
• • 3. Contraindications to MRI (e.g., pacemakers, metallic implants) and TMS (i.e., history of seizures, presence of ferromagnetic implants in the head area).
• • 4. Medications known to alter the corticospinal excitability.
• • 5. Severe visual deficit, motor weakness, or intellectual impairment (as per the Mini-Mental State Exam score \< 24).