Magnetic fields and PD

["clements@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <clements@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

This citation and original abstract are from the EMF Database
published by Information Ventures,
Inc.

THE EFFECTS OF EXTERNAL PICOTESLA RANGE MAGNETIC FIELDS ON THE EEG IN

PARKINSON'S DISEASE.

(Eng.) Sandyk, R.; Derpapas, K.
[P.O. Box 203, Bedford Hills, NY 10507 (RR/R.S.); NeuroCommunication
Res.
Labs., 36 Mill Plain Rd., Danbury, CT 06811 (R.S.); Dept. of
Neuroscience,
Inst. for Biomedical Engineering and Rehabilitation Services, Touro
Coll.,
Dix Hills, NY 11746 (R.S.); Neurological Clinic IKA, Kallithea 17672,

Athens, Greece (K.D.)] Int J Neurosci 70(1-2):85-96; 1993

Extracranial treatment with picotesla (pT)-range magnetic fields (MF)
have
recently been shown to ameliorate Parkinson's disease (PD)
symptomology.
This case report describes a 68-yr-old man with a 7-yr history of
Parkinson's disease (PD) who obtained little benefit from treatment
by
dopaminergic and anticholinergic agents.  The patient's symptoms
(memory
functions, depression, and dystonia of the foot) were rapidly
deteriorating
before initiation of treatment.  Electroencephalograms (EEG) of the
patient
were analyzed with brain mapping software.  The patient's baseline
map
showed two distinct abnormal areas in the right parietal and left
parieto-
occipital areas.  Magnetic fields were applied externally over the
scalp
via a magnetic probe containing 16 coils, each with an area of 3.14
cm2.
MFs were produced parallel to the axis of each coil, thus forming a
uniform
MF.  A 7.5-pT MF was generated with a frequency of 5 Hz for
stimulation
periods of 10 min each.  Fields were applied between 2000-2200 hours
in a
magnetically unshielded room and the patient continued
pharmacological
therapy during the study.  A rapid attenuation of tremor and foot
dystonia
with improvements in gait, postural reflexes, mood, anxiety,
cognitive, and
autonomic functions was noted after treatment.  Plasma prolactin and
luteinizing hormone (LH) levels rose 3 days after initiation of
treatment.
In addition, distinct EEG changes were recorded 9 days after 2
treatments
with MF and included enhancement of alpha and beta activities as well
as
resolution of the theta activity.  These changes suggest that these
picotesla MFs alter neuronal activity in the generalized
thalamocortical
system and demonstrated, for the first time, objective EEG changes in

response to picoTesla range MF in PD.  Since the pineal gland has
been
shown to be a magnetosensor and as some of the clinical effects
produced by
MF have also been noted in healthy subjects administered melatonin,
the
authors proposed that the clinical effects as well as the EEG changes
noted
after treatment with MF were mediated by the pineal gland which
previously
has been implicated in the pathophysiology of PD.  (39 Refs).

[Copyright 1994, Information Ventures, Inc.]

Keywords: Parkinson's disease, Magnetic fields, EEG, Alpha rhythm,
Hypothalamus,
Pineal gland, Melatonin, Reticular formation

Information Ventures, Inc., kleinste@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx