Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the treatment of Tremor
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the treatment of Tremor
IRAS ID
279731
Contact name
A Oswal
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Research Governance, Ethics & Assurance Team (RGEA)
Duration of Study in the UK
4 years, 8 months, 0 days
Research summary
Tremor can be both physically and socially challenging. By far the two commonest causes are Essential tremor and Parkinson’s. Oral medication is available but many patients eventually discontinue the drugs used for tremor, due to limited efficacy and unacceptable side effects. For those with severe symptoms, deep brain stimulation can be effective. However, this is not without expense, risk or side-effects, and its effectiveness may reduce over time.
Accordingly, there is a need for less invasive stimulation approaches than deep brain stimulation for tremor treatment, and the goal of this study is to investigate the potential of an intervention aimed at the surface of the brain, the cerebral cortex.
We plan to test whether such a treatment would work using transcranial magnetic stimulation timed to particular points in the tremor. By doing this we hope to consistently catch the brain oscillation responsible for tremor at the point which leads to a decrease in the amplitude of the tremor. We will use magnetic stimulation because it can be safely applied from outside the brain and scalp, and involves minimal discomfort. We aim to test patients with tremor due to Parkinsons or Essential tremor. We will recruit participants through adverts placed by the National Tremor Foundation and Parkinson's UK, and through DeNDRoN.
The detection of tremor suppression using non-invasive transcranial magnetic stimulation might in the future motivate trials of stimulation delivered by minimally invasive electrodes chronically placed over the surface of the relevant part of the brain.
REC name
North West - Liverpool Central Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
20/NW/0150
Date of REC Opinion
26 May 2020
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion