According to a story from psypost.org, a treatment approach called transcranial direct current stimulation can help alleviate certain aspects of pain associated with Parkinson’s disease. Transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) is a noninvasive therapeutic approach in which a low-level electrical current is transmitted via electrodes positioned on the scalp. Through the modulation of the activity of neurons, tDCS can either inhibit or enhance activity in the brain.
The Study
The study included 22 people living with Parkinson’s disease that were experiencing pain as part of their symptoms. These patients were randomly given tDCS or a placebo tDCS, with each group receiving ten 20-minute sessions. The patients were evaluated at multiple points during the study for pain and other symptoms.
The group on active treatment saw an improvement in pain symptoms beginning 15 days after receiving treatment. Conditioned pain modulation, in which pain perception in one area is reduced when pain appears elsewhere, also improved. The method appeared to improve CNS function in regulating pain and also improved mechanical hyperalgesia, meaning that pain sensitivity from touch or pressure was reduced.
Though the results are certainly encouraging, larger scale studies on this approach will be needed to draw stronger conclusions. Learn more about the study here.
About Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a type of long term, progressive, degenerative illness that affects the central nervous system. Symptoms tend to develop over a period of years and primarily affect the movement ability and mental state of the patient. The cause of Parkinson’s disease remains a mystery, although there are a number of risk factors that have been identified. These factors include head injuries, pesticide exposure, and certain genetic variants and mutations. About 15% of patients have a close relative with the disease, suggesting some genetic connection. Symptoms include slowed movements, poor coordination, trouble walking, shaking, stiffness, abnormal posture, depression, anxiety, inhibited thinking, hallucinations, and dementia. Treatment may involve a number of medications, rehabilitation, and surgical operations. Survival rate varies, but most patients survive around a decade after getting diagnosed. To learn more about Parkinson’s disease, click here.
