Magnetic Seizure Therapy for Depression

Deep brain stimulation for post-stroke rehabilitation shows upper extremity functional improvement as per a Cleveland Clinic study, presented at the annual meeting of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons (CNS).

The study team conducted the EDEN trial (Electrical Stimulation of the Dentate Nucleus for Upper Extremity Hemiparesis Due to Ischemic Stroke) (NCT02835443) �V a single-arm, open-label study conducted at Cleveland Clinic.

‘Magnetic seizure therapy might be an attractive alternate to electroconvulsive therapy to treat severe, persistent depression. ’

Almost 12 patients with chronic, moderate to severe hemiparesis of the upper extremity following unilateral middle cerebral artery stroke 12 to 36 months previously were enrolled in the study.

��All patients had three months of structured rehabilitation before the stimulation was turned on, to maximize the benefit to be achieved from rehabilitation alone,�� says Dr. Machado, Chair of Cleveland Clinic��s Neurological Institute.

The EDEN Trial

It was found that targeting a specific nucleus called the dentate nucleus with DBS is safe and feasible for promoting rehabilitation in patients who have had a stroke in a first-in-human study. The phase I EDEN trial showed that the treatment had encouraging recovery of upper extremity hemiparesis from a stroke.

This further helps the trial to seek for advanced phase II randomized controlled trial to evaluate its safety and efficacy.

The study also suggests that there are preserved neuronal pathways to offer functional restoration after stroke by stimulation and physical training.

��About half of chronic stroke patients have a residual neurological deficit severe enough to require assistance with ADLs, even after extensive rehabilitative training. We clearly need a tool that enhances the effects of physical training. DBS of the dentate nucleus shows encouraging promise to be such a tool. We are eager to investigate it further,�� says Dr. Machado.

Source: Medindia