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Significant reduction of Alzheimer’s disease symptoms by transcranial pulse stimulation, TPS
Author(s) -
Novak Pavel
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
alzheimer's and dementia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 6.713
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1552-5279
pISSN - 1552-5260
DOI - 10.1002/alz.038113
Subject(s) - medicine , stimulation , dementia , disease , clinical trial , placebo , cardiology , physical medicine and rehabilitation , pathology , alternative medicine
Background Low intensity shock waves proofed to be efficient for the treatment of non‐unions, tendon and muscular pain, wound healing, heart insufficiency, erectile dysfunction, aesthetic and finally neurological indications. The working principle is the mechanical stimulation of biological processes called mechanotransduction resulting in increased cell metabolism, release of nitric oxide (eNO) and numerous growth factors. There is also an anti‐inflammatory effect, stimulation of stem cells and the innate immune system. Alzheimer’s disease or dementia in general is multi modal disease resulting from different causes like deposition of dedicated proteins (tau, beta‐amyloid), inflammation, reduced blood supply and others. Method Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (shockwave pulses) was applied to patients suffering from minor Alzheimer’s disease in two centers. 35 patients were treated in this multicenter clinical pilot study. The treatment consisted of 6 sessions in 2 weeks, with 6000 pulses per session, energy flux density of 0.2 mJ/mm 2 at 5Hz. It was performed with an unshaved head through the hair. The treatment is painless and very well tolerated by the patients. Result The patients showed a significant improvement of the Alzheimer’s disease symptoms of over 10% measured with CERAD Plus battery of tests. The improvement was maintained until 3 months follow‐up. No side effects have been observed. Conclusion In spite of the unique positive results, further clinical evaluations are needed. Placebo controlled, randomized trials are ongoing. The device (Neurolith) has meanwhile the CE mark clearance in Europe and there are regulatory activities in further regions. References: [1] Beisteiner R, Matt E, Fan C, Baldysiak H, Schönfeld M, Philippi Novak T, Amini A, Aslan T, Reinecke R, Lehrne J, Weber A, Reime U, Goldenstedt C, Marlinghaus E, Hallett M, Lohse‐Busch H. Transcranial Pulse Stimulation with Ultrasound in Alzheimer’s disease – A new navigated focal brain therapy. Advanced Science 2019. [2] Lohse‐Busch H. Reime U, Falland R. Symptomatic treatment of unresponsive wakefulness syndrome with transcranially focused extracorporeal shock waves. Neuro Rehabilitation 35(2014) 235‐244.