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Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation Shows Promise as Alternative Therapy for Patients With Parkinson's Disease: Presented at MDS By Jenny Powers PARIS -- June 8, 2009 -- Noninvasive brain stimulation may be a promising therapeutic alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS) in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), according to study findings presented here at the Movement Disorder Society's (MDS) 13th International Congress of Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders. David Benninger, MD, National Institute of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, reported the results of an efficacy and safety study of the effects of Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) in the treatment of PD on June 7. Dr. Benninger and colleagues from the NIH carried out the randomised, double-blind, sham-controlled study to assess patients' motor ability, including gait and bradykinesia, for up to 3 months post treatment. A total of 25 patients were randomised to either tDCS (n = 13) or placebo (n = 12), which consisted of sham stimulation administered in a series of 8 sessions over a 3-week time period. Patients in each group were maintained on their existing treatments. Anodal stimulation was applied alternately to the motor and the frontal cortex. Response was evaluated using timed tests of gait and bradykinesia, the Unified PD Rating Scale (UPDRS), Serial Reaction Time Task (SRTT), the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), a Quality of Life (QOL) questionnaire, and patients' self-assessment of their mobility. The patients who received tDCS showed improvement in their bradykinesia in an on-and-off condition for longer than 3 months, and gait only in the off condition, when the effects of dopaminergic therapy were not present. However, no significant difference was seen in the UPDRS, SRTT, BDI, QOL or patient self-assessment between real and sham tDCS. No adverse events were observed. The researchers concluded that tDCS of the motor and frontal cortexes could improve bradykinesia and gait in patients with moderate PD. A substantial placebo effect was seen in this study, which demonstrates the importance of sham controls. Dr. Benninger concluded that patients in this proof of principle study of tDCS showed improvement beyond their optimal dopaminergic treatment and tDCS may be of benefit as an alternative or additional treatment. The authors suggested the development and establishment of stimulation parameters for further therapeutic studies. Funding for this study was provided by the National Institutes of Health. Rayilyn Brown Director AZNPF Arizona Chapter National Parkinson Foundation [log in to unmask] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn