Noninvasive brain stimulation may improve Parkinson's nonmotor symptoms and daily activity
A research team led by Professor Ho Kyung Yoon of the Department of Psychiatry and Professor Do Young Kwon of the Department of Neurology at Korea University Ansan Hospital demonstrated that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) significantly improves depression and apathy in patients with Parkinson's disease.
A Korea University-led research team discovered that noninvasive brain stimulation, specifically transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), can significantly improve depression, apathy, and motor symptoms in Parkinson's disease patients. The study, published in Acta Neuropsychiatrica, incorporated wearable technology to monitor patients' daily physical activity and sleep patterns in real-world settings.
By delivering low-intensity electrical currents to specific brain regions over ten sessions, the treatment demonstrated a 54% reduction in depressive symptoms, a 38% decrease in anxiety, and a 25% improvement in apathy, which was the strongest predictor of increased daily activity. These findings suggest that tDCS could be a safe and effective adjunctive treatment for patients living with Parkinson's disease, as it not only addresses nonmotor symptoms but also enhances real-world physical activity levels.
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