Abstract
BACKGROUND: Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown promise in enhancing cognitive function through neuroplasticity. This study investigates the impact of rTMS on Alzheimer's disease (AD) and AD with cerebrovascular disease (AD-CVD) symptomologies, using Electrovestibulography (EVestG). METHODOLOGY: Participants were recruited from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled clinical trial on rTMS efficacy for mild to moderate AD. Thirty-five individuals who volunteered for the EVestG study (28 received active rTMS and 7 the sham treatment) were recorded at baseline, post-treatment, and two months' follow-up. EVestG recordings were analyzed to calculate normalized probability (NP) values for AD and AD-CVD symptomologies and compare with standard cognitive outcome. RESULTS: Changes in NP values from pre to post active treatment showed improved participants exhibited opposite trends in AD and AD-CVD symptomologies compared to non-improved participants with a decrease in NP(AD-CVD) and a slight increase in NP(AD) value. Significant associations were found between changes in cognitive score and NP values, even after adjusting for age, sex, and multiple comparisons, indicating that patients with higher certainty of AD diagnosis (versus AD-CVD) were more likely to benefit from rTMS. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest rTMS cognitive improvement may result from reduced AD-CVD symptomatology, especially in patients with higher certainty of AD diagnoses, potentially due to increased cerebral blood flow (CBF). SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11571-025-10310-5.