Intermittent theta burst stimulation to the primary motor cortex promotes symptomatic alleviation of non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease
- Macías-García, Paloma
- Rashid-López, Raúl
- Sánchez-Fernández, F. Luis
- Lozano-Soto, Elena
- Sarrias-Arrabal, Esteban
- Cruz-Gómez, Álvaro J.
- Sanmartino, Florencia
- Cano-Cano, Fátima
- López-Sosa, Fernando
- Méndez-Bértolo, Constantino
- Rubio-Esteban, Guillermo
- Espinosa-Rosso, Raúl
- González-Rosa, Javier J.
ISSN: 1935-861X
Año de publicación: 2023
Volumen: 16
Número: 1
Páginas: 361-362
Tipo: Artículo
Otras publicaciones en: Brain Stimulation
Resumen
Background: Neuropsychiatric symptoms are a common manifestation of Parkinson’s Disease (PD), usually accompanied by a broad spectrum of other non-motor symptoms. Recent evidence proposes intermittent Theta Burst Stimulation (iTBS) as a novel non-invasive neuromodulation treatment to improve brain function in PD. However, the significance of its effectiveness remains unclear. Here, we conducted this research to study the effects on neuropsychiatric symptomatology after iTBS over primary motor cortex (M1).Methods: Eleven PD patients performed a randomized double-blind sham controlled crossover study of 5 continuous sessions of iTBS over bilateral M1. Patients were randomly divided into two groups: real iTBS and control (sham) stimulation. Posteriorly, they went on washout period for at least 3 months. Subsequently, patients were counterbalanced into the other group so they could receive the opposite stimulation condition that they had previously received. A full clinical, cognitive, and neuropsychiatric examination occurred prior and posterior (in different follow-ups moments) to stimulation.Results: Real bilateral M1 iTBS but not sham significantly improved mood, concretely depression and anxiety symptoms, which lasted during at least 1 month. Patients also manifested a decrement in behavioral disinhibition associated to iTBS. In the same way, an extensive improvement in motor sings was obtained for iTBS in comparison to sham. Furthermore, in long term iTBS might have an enhancing effect over the pharmacological effect, as patients manifested less associated complications when they received real ITBS in contrast to sham.Conclusions: In addition to the robust clinical effects on motor symptoms, bilateral M1 iTBS might also be used as an effective method to treat some frontal signs and mood symptomatology, specifically for the alleviation of depression and anxiety. Further investigation is needed in order to fully exploit active M1 iTBS as an adjunctive treatment for management of non-motor symptoms of PD.