New research into non-invasive brain stimulation for Parkinson's
8 February 2010
We have awarded an innovation grant
of nearly £34,000 for research into whether non-invasive brain
stimulation can help people with Parkinson's walk and turn.
Funding this kind of high-risk new research is what our innovation grants programme is all about.
Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research
The grant has been awarded to Dr Geert Verheyden and his
team from the School of Health Sciences at the University of
Southampton.
More than half of the 10,000 respondents in our 2007 members'
survey 'Life with Parkinson's today' said that turning over in bed,
getting in and out of chairs and starting to walk were
difficult.
What the researchers will do
Dr Verheyden will test out a new way of stimulating the brain
without drugs or surgery called transcranial direct current
stimulation (tDCS).
2 small electrodes will be placed on the scalps of 20 people
with Parkinson's, and an electric current passed to stimulate
specific nerve cells. The procedure is painless and doesn't need
surgery.
The team will measure how well people stand up, turn and walk
both before and after real or 'sham' brain stimulation.
Funding high-risk new research
Dr Kieran Breen, our Director of Research and Development,
comments:
"We don't really know whether non-invasive brain stimulation has
an effect on a person's mobility, or whether the effects are
different depending on the stage of their Parkinsons.
"This is only a small study, but it could give us enough
information to know whether this is a new treatment worth
pursuing.
"Funding this kind of high-risk new research is what our
innovation grants programme is all about."
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