PARKINSON'S DISEASE NEWS

12th September 2010 - New research

TRANSCRANIAL MAGNETIC STIMULATION FOR PARKINSON'S DISEASE

Movement Disorders [2010] Aug 24. [Epub ahead of print] (Pal E, Nagy F, Aschermann Z, Balazs E, Kovacs N.) Complete abstract

New clinical trial results indicate that Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) seems to have an anti-depressive effect on people with Parkinson's Disease. TMS is a method of exciting nerve cells. The excitation is achieved by weak electric currents caused by rapidly changing magnetic fields. This way, brain activity can be affected without the need for surgery or external electrodes. The field is generated by passing current pulses through a conducting coil, held close to the scalp so that the field is focussed in the cortex, passing through the skull. For more information go to Transcranial magnetic stimulation. For full details of the method go to the Oxford Handbook of Transcranial Stimulation.  In the clinical trial, depression rating scales showed significant improvement 30 days after treatment ended. Parkinson's Disease symptoms also improved during the clinical trial, but not by much. In a previous study, TMS reduced some Parkinson's Disease symptoms. The effect appears to have been achieved by increasing dopamine levels. For more information go to the Complete abstract. For more current news go to Parkinson's Disease News.

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Parkinson's Disease News details all significant new research, news reports, new books, and new resources concerning Parkinson's Disease and those medical disorders that often coincide with Parkinson's Disease. It is compiled from an analysis of  all newly published research, news reports, new clinical trials, all newly published books, and new web sites. A summary and analysis of the new research are provided,  as well as links to the complete abstracts and news reports