# Combining rTMS & aerobic exercise to treat depression and improve post-stroke walking (RESTORATION)

> **NIH NIH R01** · MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA · 2024 · $675,676

## Abstract

Project Summary
Depression is the most common neuropsychiatric manifestation following stroke and current treatments are
largely ineffective. Depression has both direct and indirect effects on response to rehabilitation treatment, thus
subjects with post-stroke depression (PSD) are routinely excluded from rehabilitation trials and treatment options
for these individuals are extremely limited.
We propose to determine the efficacy of combining two known anti-depressant treatments shown to be effective
in non-stroke depression, aerobic exercise (AEx) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS), on
post-stroke depressive symptoms. Further, we will determine 1) the potential for AEx to enhance the effects of
rTMS to treat depression; and 2) whether successful reduction in depressive symptoms is associated with
improved recovery. This project is based on the scientific premise that depression negatively affects the potential
to adapt in response to treatment such that rehabilitation may not produce the same changes that it does in non-
depressed individuals. We hypothesize that effective treatment for PSD will result in a virtuous cycle whereby
reducing depression enhances response to rehabilitation, thereby facilitating functional gains. That is, effectively
treating depression will enable individuals to better recover from stroke. Furthermore, in addition to its beneficial
effects on depression, AEx is known to improve post-stroke motor recovery, thus providing an attractive option
for treating depression as well as an established vehicle to study the effects of PSD on response to rehabilitation.
The experiments proposed as part of this project are designed to address critical questions related to: 1) the
combined effects of AEx and rTMS (versus AEx or rTMS alone) on depressive symptoms; 2) the potential for
PSD to limit response to rehabilitation; and 3) the relationship between baseline subject attributes and response
to treatment.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10904283
- **Project number:** 1R01HD113299-01A1
- **Recipient organization:** MEDICAL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH CAROLINA
- **Principal Investigator:** Wuwei Feng
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $675,676
- **Award type:** 1
- **Project period:** 2024-09-01 → 2029-08-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10904283

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10904283, Combining rTMS & aerobic exercise to treat depression and improve post-stroke walking (RESTORATION) (1R01HD113299-01A1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-06-16 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10904283. Licensed CC0.

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