If we know that something can be done, we will do it! The docs can no longer ethically tell us that PD is not treatable, just that we don't know how yet but here is what we do know. And if they can reach 37% the first time out of the chute....???

It isn't a drug or devise, so the FDA can take a leap and it won't cost an arm or leg. MJFF, find a way to push this one.



1. J Neurosci. 2011 Nov 9;31(45):16309-17.

Real-time functional magnetic resonance imaging neurofeedback for treatment of
Parkinson's disease.

Subramanian L, Hindle JV, Johnston S, Roberts MV, Husain M, Goebel R, Linden D.

Schools of Psychology and Medical Sciences, Bangor University, Bangor LL57 2AS,
United Kingdom, Schools of Medicine and Psychology, Cardiff University, Cardiff
CF14 4XN, United Kingdom, School of Social Sciences, Brunel University, Uxbridge
UB8 1BY, United Kingdom, Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience, University College
London, London WC1N 3AR, United Kingdom, and Department of Cognitive
Neuroscience, Maastricht University, 6200 MD Maastricht, The Netherlands.

Self-regulation of brain activity in humans based on real-time feedback of
functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) signal is emerging as a potentially
powerful, new technique. Here, we assessed whether patients with Parkinson's
disease (PD) are able to alter local brain activity to improve motor function.
Five patients learned to increase activity in the supplementary motor complex
over two fMRI sessions using motor imagery. They attained as much activation in
this target brain region as during a localizer procedure with overt movements.
Concomitantly, they showed an improvement in motor speed (finger tapping) and
clinical ratings of motor symptoms (37% improvement of the motor scale of the
Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale). Activation during neurofeedback was
also observed in other cortical motor areas and the basal ganglia, including the
subthalamic nucleus and globus pallidus, which are connected to the supplementary
motor area (SMA) and crucial nodes in the pathophysiology of PD. A PD control
group of five patients, matched for clinical severity and medication, underwent
the same procedure but did not receive feedback about their SMA activity. This
group attained no control of SMA activation and showed no motor improvement.
These findings demonstrate that self-modulation of cortico-subcortical motor
circuits can be achieved by PD patients through neurofeedback and may result in
clinical benefits that are not attainable by motor imagery alone.

PMID: 22072682 [PubMed - in process]