Effects of Transcranial Pulsed Electromagnetic Field stimulation on quality of life in Parkinson's Disease

BACKGROUND: Pulsed electromagnetic fields induce a protective and anti-inflammatory effect in the nervous system primarily due to growth factor up regulation that possibly abates neurodegeneration in Parkinson's disease. This study investigated treatment effects of transcranial pulsed electromagnetic fields on quality of life in Parkinson's disease and secondly the feasibility and safety of this treatment.

METHODS: In this double-blinded clinical study, 97 participants with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (Hoehn & Yahr I-IV) in optimal medical anti-parkinson treatment, were block randomized 3:3 to either active (n=49) or placebo treatment (n=48). Treatment with transcranial pulsed electromagnetic fields entailed one daily 30-minute home treatment for eight consecutive weeks. The 39-item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire was assessed at baseline and at endpoint. Profiling adverse events a special questionnaire was used interviewing the participants in the full treatment period. Treatment compliance was accounted for by daily treatment registration.

RESULTS: The active group improved pertaining clinical effect size for the two dimensions, mobility and ADL, compared to the placebo group. For the remaining PDQ-39 dimensions no between group differences were found. There were no between group difference in adverse events. Treatment compliance was 97.9%.

CONCLUSION: Treatment with transcranial pulsed electromagnetic fields improved mobility and ADL scores for clinical effect size only in the active group, indicating a positive treatment response concerning motor symptoms. No difference was found between the two groups for the remaining PDQ-39 dimensions. The treatment had no or only mild adverse events and was performed with high compliance.