There is hope on the horizon for a new treatment that may alleviate some symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In PD, pharmacologic treatments such as levodopa and dopamine agonists are highly effective for many of the symptoms of PD. However, medications have their limitations, as well as side effects. Further, some PD symptoms (such as freezing of gait) tend to be treatment resistant.

Research increasingly shows that a new treatment, transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS), a non-invasive method of stimulation of the brain, has the potential to help control motor symptoms of PD non-invasively.

(NeuroStar TMS and Brainsway Deep TMS therapies) have been cleared by the FDA for treatment of patients with depression who have not benefitted from antidepressant medications or cannot tolerate antidepressant medications due to side-effects.

Clinical Trials

Our TMS laboratory at NYU Langone Medical Center currently conducts three clinical trials/research studies of rTMS in PD. All studies are open to new patients. Our Lab is equipped with three TMS machines: two Magstim devices and one NeuroStar machine. We are also equipped with state of the art system of neuronavigation, which allows precise stimulation of MRI-defined brain regions with a superb accuracy of a few millimeters. For more information, please visit our webpage.

Pilot study

http://parkinson.med.nyu.edu/researc...ts-pilot-study

http://parkinson.med.nyu.edu/promise...-new-treatment

Some doctors are using NeuroStar “off-label” to treat other diseases that involve the brain’s neurotransmitters, like fibromyalgia, tinnitus, Parkinson’s disease and the intractable auditory hallucinations that are part of schizophrenia. NeuroStar is not yet approved for use on patients with any of those illnesses, but one expert explains why it might be effective.

“Parkinson’s is a disease of specific neurotransmitters that affect the release of dopamine, which controls movement,” says Neuronetics’ Demitrack. “If TMS can control the release of dopamine, it might help patients control their movements and alleviate shaking and tremors.”

Research into those areas is being conducted by NeuroStar, medical centers and universities, along with the federal government. Should NeuroStar receive FDA approval for treatment of other diseases, it’s poised to expand. Shook says the company has already raised $128 million from private sources and venture-capital firms.

http://www.mainlinetoday.com/core/pa...nt/&mode=print

Brainsway Deep TMS therapy is approved by the CE and by ANIVISA for treating Parkinson's Disease.

http://www.brainsway.com/parkinson%E2%80%99s-disease

TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation) therapy is an FDA-cleared depression treatment for patients who have not benefited from initial antidepressant medication.

We saw presentations from around the world with news of exciting experiences in Japan and Chile where many people are being treated ‘on label’ for depression as well as ‘off label’ for a wide variety of disorders - with great success. We heard about more evidence of the superior and lasting effects of TMS. And the ‘52 week durability study after acute treatment’ that Nashville TMS participated in is due to be published soon.

The future looks enormously bright for TMS as we continue to treat depression – and on the horizon - treating other debilitating conditions that include:
post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), bipolar disorder,pain,negative symptoms of schizophrenia,addictions, and neurological conditions - such as stroke rehabilitation, epilepsy, Parkinson’s disease, and tinnitus

http://www.nashvilletms.com/

Will Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) using pulsating low electrical currents be a future treatment of PD motor impairment symptoms? Will it hold the line or slightly reduce symptoms?


It is felt that for Parkinson's disease motor function 15-20 sessions will have a positive effect for six to eight months. Aften that time fewer sessions will be needed to sustain the effects. The sessions are always carried out by a team which includes a Biological Psychologist and an rTMS Specialist.

The whys of how it can work for PD are still unclear but it does seem to have an effect on the presynaptic inhibition of the motor cortex. TMS appears to help balance neural network activity and to stimulate dopamine release.

http://parkinsonsfocustoday.blogspot...imulation.html

Thanks, Zanpar. My mom and I talked NYU yesterday about their pilot study. They have enrolled 8 out of 36 volunteers and still need 28 more.

50/50 chance of being enrolled in sham or treatment groups. No compensation. Seven visits to NYU required. Possible side effects include headache, neckache, and temporary hearing loss. Probably not in the cards for my mom, who is in Western PA, but might be of interest to those closer to NYC.

Dr. Sandyk was practicing in New York state-not sure if he still is or not but he has published a LOT of work to the NIH site on this subject. -md