Members of this forum are familiar with the use of electricity to treat illness, most likely through the posts on DBS or, less likely, through references to transcranial stimulation.

However, the theraputic uses of electricity goes much wider. The area is called "electroceuticals" or, more widely "bioelectronics".

For an overview of electroceuticals, see an article in Wired [1].

In August it was reported [2] that GlaxoSmithKlein were creating a $50 million fund to invest in companies working in this area.

At the same time it was announced that: "SetPoint is developing a novel proprietary bioelectronic medicine platform to treat a variety of inflammation-mediated autoimmune diseases. In contrast to immunosuppressive drugs, this neuromodulation therapy uses an implantable pulse generator to stimulate the vagus nerve, activating the body’s natural Inflammatory Reflex to produce a systemic anti-inflammatory effect." [3]

(The Braak hypothesis implicates the vagus nerve in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's.)

Perhaps the day will come when, rather than us saying we take the equivalent of 800mg of levodopa per day, we'll say we use 2 AA batteries each day.

One of the attractions of this area for citizen scientists is that we all have access to the equipment required.

In this area I'm looking at simpler, less invasive ways to reduce tremor than DBS. Working on the lower arm I'm detecting electrical activity associated with tremor, and firing partially negating electrical signals to counteract it.

I'll be very interested to hear other people's views on the potential of this area.

References:

[1] http://www.wired.co.uk/news/archive/...ectroceuticals

[2] https://pevc.dowjones.com/Article?an...dts%26pid%3d32

[3] http://www.businesswire.com/news/hom...nancing-Adding

John

There's an interesting thing linking a number of current threads: electrophoresis.

Wikipedia defines electrophoresis as:
"Electrophoresis is the motion of dispersed particles relative to a fluid under the influence of a spatially uniform electric field."

Electrophoresis applies here too.

Note the paper quoted below was published nearly 30 years ago.


With results as good as these I would have expected further comment.

Is this an early use of transcranial direct current stimulation?

John

Off topic slightly, the report below is about migraine, but similar work is being done for PD.

"A new hand-held device that delivers a magnetic pulse to the back of the head could become an alternative to drug treatment for people with migraines.

A trial found that 40% of patients were pain free two hours after using the device.

Research showed there were no serious side-effects and patients found the device easy to use at home."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/health/8547042.stm

John