Transcranial AC pulsed applications of weak electromagnetic fields reduces freezing and falling in progressive supranuclear palsy: a case report.

The International journal of neuroscience · 1998 · Benefit · Very low evidence

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BenefitVery low evidencePaper 5389

Study snapshot

PublicationThe International journal of neuroscience · 1998

Study typecase_report

Reported directionBenefit

Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Freezing is a common and disabling symptom in patients with Parkinsonism. It affects most commonly the gait in the form of start hesitation and sudden immobility often resulting in falling. A higher incidence of freezing occurs in patients with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) which is characterized clinically by a constellation of symptoms including supranuclear ophthalmoplegia, postural instability, axial rigidity, dysarthria, Parkinsonism, and pseudobulbar palsy. Pharmacologic therapy of PSP is currently disappointing and the disease progresses relentlessly to a fatal outcome within the first decade after onset. This report concerns a 67 year old woman with a diagnosis of PSP in whom freezing and frequent falling were the most disabling symptoms of the disease at the time of presentation. Both symptoms, which were rated 4 on the Unified Parkinson Rating Scale (UPRS) which grades Parkinsonian symptoms and signs from 0 to 4, with 0 being normal and 4 being severe symptoms, were resistant to treatment with dopaminergic drugs such as levodopa, amantadine, selegiline and pergolide mesylate as well as with the potent and highly selective noradrenergic reuptake inhibitor nortriptyline. Weekly transcranial applications of AC pulsed electromagnetic fields (EMFs) of picotesla flux density was associated with approximately 50% reduction in the frequency of freezing and about 80-90% reduction in frequency of falling after a 6 months follow-up period. At this point freezing was rated 2 while falling received a score of 1 on the UPRS. In addition, this treatment was associated with an improvement in Parkinsonian and pseudobulbar symptoms with the difference between the pre-and post EMF treatment across 13 measures being highly significant (p < .005; Sign test). These results suggest that transcranial administration AC pulsed EMFs in the picotesla flux density is efficacious in the treatment of PSP.

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AI evidence extraction

Structured fields below were generated from the paper’s abstract and metadata to make the evidence easier to inspect. Automated extraction may be incomplete or incorrect; verify important details against the original paper.

Study typecase_report

Effect directionbenefit

Population67 year old woman with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)

Sample size1

ExposureWeekly transcranial applications; 6 months follow-up

Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Weekly transcranial applications of AC pulsed EMFs of picotesla flux density were associated with ~50% reduction in freezing frequency and ~80–90% reduction in falling frequency after 6 months, with UPRS freezing improving from 4 to 2 and falling from 4 to 1. Across 13 measures of Parkinsonian and pseudobulbar symptoms, pre- vs post-treatment differences were reported as highly significant (p < .005; Sign test).

Outcomes measured

Freezing frequency (UPRS rating)
Falling frequency (UPRS rating)
Parkinsonian symptoms (13 measures)
Pseudobulbar symptoms (13 measures)

Limitations

Single-patient case report
No control/sham condition described
Blinding not described
Details of EMF parameters beyond 'AC pulsed' and 'picotesla flux density' not provided
Concomitant/previous medication history noted; attribution to EMF alone uncertain

View raw extracted JSON

{
  "study_type": "case_report",
  "exposure": {
    "band": null,
    "source": "transcranial AC pulsed electromagnetic fields",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "Weekly transcranial applications; 6 months follow-up"
  },
  "population": "67 year old woman with progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP)",
  "sample_size": 1,
  "outcomes": [
    "Freezing frequency (UPRS rating)",
    "Falling frequency (UPRS rating)",
    "Parkinsonian symptoms (13 measures)",
    "Pseudobulbar symptoms (13 measures)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Weekly transcranial applications of AC pulsed EMFs of picotesla flux density were associated with ~50% reduction in freezing frequency and ~80–90% reduction in falling frequency after 6 months, with UPRS freezing improving from 4 to 2 and falling from 4 to 1. Across 13 measures of Parkinsonian and pseudobulbar symptoms, pre- vs post-treatment differences were reported as highly significant (p < .005; Sign test).",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Single-patient case report",
    "No control/sham condition described",
    "Blinding not described",
    "Details of EMF parameters beyond 'AC pulsed' and 'picotesla flux density' not provided",
    "Concomitant/previous medication history noted; attribution to EMF alone uncertain"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "progressive supranuclear palsy",
    "PSP",
    "Parkinsonism",
    "freezing",
    "falls",
    "transcranial",
    "AC pulsed electromagnetic fields",
    "picotesla",
    "UPRS"
  ],
  "suggested_hubs": []
}

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AI-extracted fields are generated from the abstract and metadata and may be incomplete or incorrect. This material is for informational purposes and is not medical advice.

Identifiers and source

DOI: 10.3109/00207459808986437
PubMed: 9622798

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