Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is an innovative treatment that uses magnetic pulses to activate areas of the brain. It’s a non-invasive process and can provide long-lasting relief from psychiatric disorders, even when conventional therapies don’t work.

Ongoing research is advancing our understanding of TMS, including its long-term effects, how different methods compare, and potential benefits across various conditions.

In this article, we highlight some of the most important recent findings from the past year.

TMS Improves Quality of Life for People with Depression

Multiple studies from the past decade show that TMS can significantly reduce depressive symptoms, including for those with treatment-resistant depression (TRD), who have failed to respond to conventional therapies.

A from the University of Toronto looked specifically at how TMS affects the quality of life in people with depression. They used a patient-reported Quality of Life Enjoyment and Satisfaction Questionnaire that includes social and family relationships, hobbies, and household activities.

Their results showed that both younger (<60 years) and older (≥60 years) adults had clinically meaningful improvements in QoL 12 weeks after TMS treatment. Before treatment, only 0.3% of young adults and 2.3% of older adults reported having a normal quality of life. However, after treatment, this increased to 24% in the younger adults group and 27% in the older adults group.

This data highlights how TMS may restore more than just mood — it may help patients regain everyday functioning, satisfaction, and well-being.

TMS Is a Well-Tolerated Treatment for Depression

For any medical intervention, particularly one that stimulates the brain, safety and tolerability are critical.

A nt study examined how people experienced two types of TMS treatment: standard F3-rTMS and a newer, connectivity-guided iTBS (cgiTBS).

Overall, most participants found TMS to be very acceptable, with about 70% saying they were comfortable with the treatment. Nearly half felt that the benefits of TMS outweighed any side effects, and by six months after treatment, over half reported feeling somewhat or much better.

In terms of safety, most side effects were mild and temporary, such as minor scalp discomfort or brief headaches. These were often managed easily by adjusting the intensity or position of the TMS coil. Serious side effects were very rare, with only one serious event in each group.

TMS Reduces Suicidal Ideation

Suicide is on the rise. Effective mental health interventions are critical for saving lives, and evidence shows TMS could be a solution.

This year, a examined the effects of TMS on suicidality, specifically in adolescents. Forty-one teens, aged 12–18, received six weeks of either high-frequency (10 Hz) TMS or low-frequency (1 Hz) TMS. The results showed that both types of TMS reduced the intensity of suicidal thoughts over the six-week treatment period, as well as overall depression symptoms.

Anotherlooked at how TMS affected suicidality in older adults, who are at the highest risk for suicide. Like in the teenager study, TMS reduced suicidal ideation. By the study’s end, over half the participants were in remission, meaning they no longer had any clinically significant thoughts of suicide.

TMS for Addiction Treatment

The usefulness of TMS isn’t just limited to depression. Rather, the treatment can help with many different disorders, including addiction.

The FDA has already approved TMS for treatment of smoking addiction, with multiple lines of evidence showing the treatment has ong-lasting benefits in aiding people quit. Last year, a investigated how TMS helps with smoking when different areas of the brain are stimulated. The results found smokers had the biggest reduction in cravings when TMS targeted their superior frontal gyrus (SFG), a brain area involved in controlling behaviours and working memory. These results help inform clinicians when it comes to best practices for helping patients with substance abuse disorders.

TMS for Neurodegenerative Diseases

Beyond mood disorders and addiction, researchers are increasingly considering whether TMS might support neurodegenerative diseases. Studies show TMS increases neuroplasticity, the ability to grow new nerve cells and connections between them. These findings suggest TMS could help restore damage caused by Parkinson’s Disease.

A study this year investigated the effect of two different TMS types on Parkinson’s motor symptoms: intermittent theta-burst stimulation (iTBS) and 10 Hz repetitive (rTMS). The researchers found that people who recieved iTBS  experienced significant improvements in tremor both immediately after treatment and at a one-month follow-up. Those who received rTMS showed improvement only right after the treatment sessions

When it came to other motor symptoms, such as limb movement, rigidity, posture, slowness of movement, and overall mobility, both groups improved over time. Importantly, the treatments were well tolerated, and no patients or caregivers reported any adverse effects during the study or follow-up.

TMS Treatment in Fairfax County

McLean Neuropsychiatric Treatment Centre (NTC) is a leading provider of TMS for depression in Faifax county, with a state-of-the-art clinic in McLean.

We believe in offering care that reflects the evolving scientific understanding of TMS, and a keep up to date with the latest research, to ensure the best possible outcomes for our patients.

If you’d like to learn more about TMS, our treatment program, or whether you may be a good candidate, please contact us for a nsive evaluation.