Small vibrating device shows potential for Parkinson’s
Results from a clinical trial of CUE1+, a chest-mounted device, has shown it’s well tolerated by people with Parkinson’s and has the potential to help manage movement symptoms.
The CUE1+ device was developed by a Cambridge-based company called Charco Neurotech to improve movement symptoms of Parkinson’s and help manage freezing of gait, where it becomes difficult to take a step forward. The device is non-invasive, and attaches to the chest using an adhesive patch.
Read our Tech Guide information about the CUE1+ device.
How does the CUE1+ device work?
The wearable uses vibrotactile stimulation and cueing. A small electric motor produces rhythmic vibrations throughout the day, which stimulate the sensory nerves in the nervous system. These signals are sent from the skin and muscles to the brain. Previous research has shown that vibration has potential benefits for Parkinson’s.
Read more about vibration and Parkinson’s in our research blog.
What did the researchers do?
Researchers at Queen Mary University of London conducted a clinical study of the CUE1+ device, involving 50 people with Parkinson’s.
Each participant was randomly assigned either CUE1+ or a sham device - identical in appearance but delivered no vibration. The trial was double blinded, meaning that neither the participants nor researchers knew who had been assigned CUE1+. The devices were worn on the chest for 8 hours a day over a period of 12 weeks. Each participant was assessed at the start and end of the trial.
What do the results show?
Both groups tolerated the devices well, with very few side effects reported. One participant in each group found that the adhesive patch caused some skin irritation, but both cases cleared up without treatment. As well as being safe to use, the CUE1+ device was deemed usable, and therefore a feasible intervention for people with Parkinson’s.
At the end of the study, participants in the group who trialled CUE1+ saw an improvement in their movement symptoms, particularly in slowness of movement. Improvements in freezing of gait, sleep and quality of life were also reported. The sham group did not report the same improvements.
Read the full published paper on the Journal of Parkinson's Disease website.
What does this mean for people with Parkinson’s?
Dr Cristina Simonet, who led the study at Queen Mary University of London, said:
"People with Parkinson’s have limited, non-invasive treatment options that can be integrated into everyday life. This trial showed that the CUE1+ device was safe, well tolerated and used consistently over 12 weeks of daily home use.
"While this pilot study was not designed to establish clinical efficacy, the encouraging exploratory findings in motor symptoms and quality of life provide a strong rationale for larger, adequately powered trials to determine whether wearable vibrotactile stimulation can deliver meaningful benefits alongside standard Parkinson’s care."
Emma Rodgers, Research Communications Manager at Parkinson’s UK, shares: "These findings are an important step forward in understanding the potential benefits of vibrotactile cueing devices for the Parkinson’s community.
"Whilst larger, longer trials are needed to further explore the potential of CUE1+, it’s encouraging to see that the device was well tolerated and saw an improvement in movement symptoms. These findings suggest that CUE1+ has potential as a complementary intervention alongside standard Parkinson’s treatments."
The Tech Guide is a place where you can learn about devices and apps that could improve your quality of life. The CUE1+ device has been reviewed by people with Parkinson's, read their full reviews on the Tech Guide page.
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