May 17, 2018

Can transcranial magnetic stimulation improve brain function for people with Parkinson's disease?

UCalgary researchers conduct study to find out; call for study participants

Author

Pauline Zulueta, Cumming School of Medicine

The device contains two magnetic coils that produce small electric currents. During treatment, the device makes a tapping sound and participants feel a light pressure inside the brain at the area being targeted.

The device makes a tapping sound and participants feel a light pressure in the targeted brain area.

Pauline Zulueta, Cumming School of Medicine

For most people, Parkinson’s disease affects movement — causing tremors, impaired balance and slowness of movement. However, those with Parkinson’s are also six times more likely to develop Parkinson’s disease dementia, a condition that affects mainly executive functions in the brain such as multitasking, planning, reasoning and decision-making. This makes daily living activities a challenge and there is no current treatment.

Researchers at the Cumming School of Medicine want to know whether transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, can improve thinking or memory function for people living with Parkinson’s disease.

TMS is a non-invasive method to stimulate nerve cells in the brain using a handheld device that produces small electric currents. In pilot studies, TMS has proven to be an effective treatment for people with depression.

The research team with the Parkinson’s Disease Cognition Action Neuroimaging (PCAN) Lab is currently recruiting study participants between 50 and 90 years old with a confirmed Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and mild thinking and memory problems. Interested participants can contact info@pcanlab.ca for more information.

Scroll through the slideshow below to learn more about the study.

Researchers at the Cumming School of Medicine (CSM) are conducting a study to find out whether transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, can improve thinking or memory function for people living with Parkinson’s disease. Peter Meier, pictured here, volunteered to be a study participant
After signing an informed consent form, the study begins with a questionnaire designed to establish a snapshot of the patient’s overall health and identify any lifestyle factors that could affect treatment and results
The study takes place over seven weeks and includes nine in-person visits which involve mood and memory assessments, motor skills tests (pictured here) and blood work
Before the first treatment session, study participants undergo an MRI scan, so researchers can create a 3D anatomical map of their brain. These scans are used to identify targets for stimulation and for comparisons. Researchers also need to know if there has been any structural changes to the brain after the treatments
TMS is a non-invasive method for stimulating nerve cells in the brain. The device contains two magnetic coils that produce small electric currents. During treatment, the device makes a tapping sound and participants feel a light pressure inside the brain at the area being targeted
As the level of stimulation is different for each person, researchers must first establish the correct intensity by stimulating the brain area responsible for controlling finger movement. The correct level of stimulation will cause the patient’s index finger to twitch. Sensors are placed on the patient’s fingers to measure the response
Dr. Stefan Lang, PhD candidate with the PCAN Lab, reads an electromyographic (EMG) readout, which shows the muscle activity in the finger
Researchers then place the device on the area of the brain that’s responsible for executive functions — things like multitasking, planning, reasoning and decision-making. Here, research scientist Liu Shi Gan, PhD, and Dr. Lang secure Meier to a frame to stabilize the head and device while it delivers the electric current
Each patient undergoes a total of three treatment visits, receiving two TMS sessions per visit. In this study, only those administering the treatment know who is receiving a real TMS treatment. Some participants receive a placebo or “sham” treatment. Neither the researchers analyzing the data nor the participants know what type of treatment has been given in order to prevent bias
Study participants undergo a series of evaluations throughout the course of the study to monitor any changes in mood, memory and thinking. Here, psychometrist Mekale Kibreab conducts the assessment with Meier.
The evaluations include a variety of cognitive tests to assess a number of skills including attention, memory and language as well as visual and spatial intelligence. Researchers then compare results from each assessment to determine whether or not the TMS treatments have made an impact on memory and thinking performance
(From left) The study is being led by Oury Monchi, PhD, professor in the Department of Radiology, clinical research director for the Department of Clinical Neurosciences at the CSM and member of the Hotchkiss Brain Institute; with team members Mekale Kibreab, psychometrist; Jenelle Cheetham, research co-ordinator; Iris Kathol, PhD, lab manager; Liu Shi Gan, research scientist; Tracy Hammer, research nurse and Dr. Stefan Lang, PhD student

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