Spinal Cord Stimulation Eases Parkinson's Disease Symptoms

Spinal cord stimulation might help reduce symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease and prevent neuronal damage, according to a latest study by Duke Medicine researchers.

The study, conducted on mice models, shows that it might be possible to use non-drug treatments to prevent Parkinson's from affecting a patient's everyday life.

Parkinson's disease occurs when the part of the brain that controls movement stops functioning normally. This usually happens when the neurons that produce a chemical called dopamine- associated with muscle control and balance- die.

Symptoms of the disease include trembling hands or legs, stiffness, poor balance and lack of co-ordination between hands and legs. Although the disease starts usually after 60 years of age, it can occur earlier as well.

Currently, a drug called L-dopa is used to replace dopamine in the brains of PD patients and lower some of their symptoms. However, the drug can cause significant side-effects. Another therapy called Deep Brain Stimulation has shown some effectiveness, but it can be used only in 5 percent of the patients.

Back in 2009, researcher Miguel Nicolelis at Duke University School of Medicine reported using a device that stimulates dorsal column to ease symptoms in rodents suffering from low dopamine levels. The dorsal column is part of spinal cord and carries information from body to the brain.

Researchers found that when they turned-on the device, the rodent started moving with greater flexibility.

In the current study, researchers looked at the long-term effects of using such a device in rats that had symptoms associated with Parkinson's disease.

They stimulated the dorsal column of the test rats twice a week in 30-minute sessions. The stimulation was given for about six weeks. Researchers found that the therapy not only helped rats move with greater ease, but also prevented damage to the neurons.

Currently, dorsal column stimulation is used in patients suffering from chronic pain. Other research on small number of people has shown that the therapy can restore motor function.

"This is still a limited number of cases, so studies like ours are important in examining the basic science behind the treatment and the potential mechanisms of why it is effective," Nicolelis said in a news release.

The study is published in the journal Scientific Reports.