Would it do the same for stroke fatigue? We'll never know.
http://dgnews.docguide.com/transcranial-direct-current-stimulation-reduces-fatigue-associated-multiple-sclerosis?overlay=2&
http://dgnews.docguide.com/transcranial-direct-current-stimulation-reduces-fatigue-associated-multiple-sclerosis?overlay=2&
October 2, 2017
NEW
YORK -- October 2, 2017 -- Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who
underwent a non-invasive form of electrical brain stimulation
experienced significant reductions in fatigue, a common and often
debilitating symptom of the disease, according to a study published in
the Multiple Sclerosis Journal.
When compared with patients who were enrolled in a placebo arm of the study, those that received transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) were found to have about a 6-point reduction on a 32-point scale measuring fatigue severity.
“Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms affecting quality of life for patients with MS and practitioners have lacked good treatment options,” said senior author Lauren Krupp, MD, NYU School of Medicine Comprehensive Care Center, New York, New York. “However, the positive results from our study suggest that tDCS might offer benefit in fatigue reduction. The next step is to see if these benefits can be replicated and sustained in larger studies. But our initial findings are very promising.”
In the controlled study, 27 people with MS were randomised to receive either tDCS (n = 15) or a placebo (n = 12) treatment while playing a cognitive training game that targets processing speed and working memory. They took part in 20-minute sessions, 5 days per week, at their homes. The participants would videoconference with a member of the study team; put their headset in place; receive a unique one-time use code to activate it; and participate in the 20-minute tDCS or placebo treatment.
After 20 sessions, participants reported their level of fatigue using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). The tDCS group experienced, on average, a 5.6-point reduction in the PROMIS scale compared with a 0.9-point decrease among patients in the placebo group.
Patients with the highest levels of fatigue at the start of the study experienced the greatest benefits.
“These data are a hopeful sign that we can use tDCS to help patients with MS manage their fatigue, and that continuing the treatment may show even better results,” says lead author Leigh Charvet, PhD, NYU Langone Health. “Importantly, tDCS can be delivered remotely to patients at home, offering a practical option for patients, especially those with travel limitations and MS-related disability.”
The exact mechanism behind tDCS is unclear and requires more research. It is thought to change the brain's cortical excitability by making it easier for neurons to fire, thereby improving connections and expediting learning that takes place during rehabilitation.
The researchers cautioned the need to validate their findings in larger studies, and strongly caution individuals with MS not to try over-the-counter stimulation technologies at home or outside of a rigorous research setting.
Reference: https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458517732842
SOURCE: NYU Langone Health
When compared with patients who were enrolled in a placebo arm of the study, those that received transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) were found to have about a 6-point reduction on a 32-point scale measuring fatigue severity.
“Fatigue is one of the most common symptoms affecting quality of life for patients with MS and practitioners have lacked good treatment options,” said senior author Lauren Krupp, MD, NYU School of Medicine Comprehensive Care Center, New York, New York. “However, the positive results from our study suggest that tDCS might offer benefit in fatigue reduction. The next step is to see if these benefits can be replicated and sustained in larger studies. But our initial findings are very promising.”
In the controlled study, 27 people with MS were randomised to receive either tDCS (n = 15) or a placebo (n = 12) treatment while playing a cognitive training game that targets processing speed and working memory. They took part in 20-minute sessions, 5 days per week, at their homes. The participants would videoconference with a member of the study team; put their headset in place; receive a unique one-time use code to activate it; and participate in the 20-minute tDCS or placebo treatment.
After 20 sessions, participants reported their level of fatigue using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS). The tDCS group experienced, on average, a 5.6-point reduction in the PROMIS scale compared with a 0.9-point decrease among patients in the placebo group.
Patients with the highest levels of fatigue at the start of the study experienced the greatest benefits.
“These data are a hopeful sign that we can use tDCS to help patients with MS manage their fatigue, and that continuing the treatment may show even better results,” says lead author Leigh Charvet, PhD, NYU Langone Health. “Importantly, tDCS can be delivered remotely to patients at home, offering a practical option for patients, especially those with travel limitations and MS-related disability.”
The exact mechanism behind tDCS is unclear and requires more research. It is thought to change the brain's cortical excitability by making it easier for neurons to fire, thereby improving connections and expediting learning that takes place during rehabilitation.
The researchers cautioned the need to validate their findings in larger studies, and strongly caution individuals with MS not to try over-the-counter stimulation technologies at home or outside of a rigorous research setting.
Reference: https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458517732842
SOURCE: NYU Langone Health
No comments:
Post a Comment