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Improvement in word-fluency performance in patients with multiple sclerosis by electromagnetic fields.

The International journal of neuroscience · 1994 · Benefit · Very low evidence

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BenefitVery low evidencePaper 5449

Three women with multiple sclerosis received 4 to 5 sessions of extracranial extremely weak electromagnetic fields in the picotesla range. Mean word output on the Thurstone Word-Fluency Test increased from 42.6 +/- 1.1 words pre-treatment to 83.3 +/- 14.0 wor…

Study snapshot

PublicationThe International journal of neuroscience · 1994
Study typecase_report
Reported directionBenefit
Evidence ratingVery low

Abstract

Impairment of cognitive functions is well recognized in patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), especially those with a chronic progressive course. In fact, MS has been considered a type of "subcortical dementia" in which cognitive and behavioral abnormalities resemble those observed in patients with frontal lobe syndrome. Patients with frontal lobe syndrome are known to exhibit diverse cognitive and behavioral abnormalities which include, among others, diminished spontaneity of speech with difficulties producing appropriate words and phrases. It has been reported recently that extracranial application of extremely weak electromagnetic fields (EMF) in the picotesla range produced improvement in motor and cognitive functions in patients with MS. The present report concerns three women with MS (mean age: 44.3 +/- 8.5 yrs; mean duration of illness: 18.3 +/- 3.5 yrs), two with chronic progressive course and the third with a relapsing-remitting course in whom the Thurstone Word-Fluency Test, a reputed test of frontal lobe function, was administered prior to and following a series of 4 to 5 treatment sessions with EMF. Prior to the initiation of treatment with EMF all patients demonstrated word fluency performance which was well below age and sex-matched normal controls of similar level of education (mean output of MS patients was 42.6 +/- 1.1 words vs. 79.0 +/- 6.2 words of the controls). A series of treatments with EMF produced a 100% increase in word output within a short period of time (mean: 83.3 +/- 14.0 words). These findings suggest that this treatment modality improves frontal lobe functions in patients with MS and corroborate previous reports indicating beneficial effects of EMF on cognitive functions in these patients.

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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
PopulationWomen with multiple sclerosis (two chronic progressive, one relapsing-remitting)
Sample size3
ExposureELF · 4 to 5 treatment sessions
Evidence strengthVery lowConfidence: 74% · Peer reviewed: yes

Main findings

Three women with multiple sclerosis received 4 to 5 sessions of extracranial extremely weak electromagnetic fields in the picotesla range. Mean word output on the Thurstone Word-Fluency Test increased from 42.6 +/- 1.1 words pre-treatment to 83.3 +/- 14.0 words post-treatment (reported as a 100% increase), approaching the mean of age/sex/education-matched controls (79.0 +/- 6.2 words).

Outcomes measured

  • Word fluency performance (Thurstone Word-Fluency Test)
  • Cognitive/frontal lobe function (as assessed by word fluency)

Limitations

  • Case report design with very small sample size (n=3)
  • No control/sham condition described for the treatment sessions
  • Exposure parameters beyond 'picotesla range' and 'extremely weak' are not specified in the abstract
  • Short-term pre/post assessment; durability of effect not reported
View raw extracted JSON
{
  "study_type": "case_report",
  "exposure": {
    "band": "ELF",
    "source": "therapeutic extracranial application",
    "frequency_mhz": null,
    "sar_wkg": null,
    "duration": "4 to 5 treatment sessions"
  },
  "population": "Women with multiple sclerosis (two chronic progressive, one relapsing-remitting)",
  "sample_size": 3,
  "outcomes": [
    "Word fluency performance (Thurstone Word-Fluency Test)",
    "Cognitive/frontal lobe function (as assessed by word fluency)"
  ],
  "main_findings": "Three women with multiple sclerosis received 4 to 5 sessions of extracranial extremely weak electromagnetic fields in the picotesla range. Mean word output on the Thurstone Word-Fluency Test increased from 42.6 +/- 1.1 words pre-treatment to 83.3 +/- 14.0 words post-treatment (reported as a 100% increase), approaching the mean of age/sex/education-matched controls (79.0 +/- 6.2 words).",
  "effect_direction": "benefit",
  "limitations": [
    "Case report design with very small sample size (n=3)",
    "No control/sham condition described for the treatment sessions",
    "Exposure parameters beyond 'picotesla range' and 'extremely weak' are not specified in the abstract",
    "Short-term pre/post assessment; durability of effect not reported"
  ],
  "evidence_strength": "very_low",
  "confidence": 0.74,
  "peer_reviewed_likely": "yes",
  "keywords": [
    "multiple sclerosis",
    "cognition",
    "frontal lobe function",
    "word fluency",
    "Thurstone Word-Fluency Test",
    "extremely weak electromagnetic fields",
    "picotesla",
    "extracranial application"
  ],
  "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: 10.3109/00207459408986069
PubMed: 7744553

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