Brain-stimulating headwear may alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms

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Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 23 June 2015

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A new non-invasive, three-pronged helmet could act as an alternative for deep brain stimulation surgery (DBS).

The brain-stimulating device helps to mitigate symptoms in Parkinson’s patients by using external electrodes to send a low-level current to the motor cortex of the brain.

Unlike DBS, where electrical leads are inserted into the skull, the new device is worn on top of the head like a helmet without the need for surgery. Its developers claim it would be a cheaper, less invasive alternative to DBS, although further development is needed before it can receive FDA approval.

Still in its testing phase, the so-called STIMband headwear prototype called was designed by a team of graduate students at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, US.

It is hoped that STIMband will become a user-friendly device that patients can use at home and administer themselves.

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Brain-stimulating headwear may alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms

News

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 23 June 2015

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Brain-stimulating headwear may alleviate Parkinson’s symptoms

News

Author: Geoffrey ChangPublished: 23 June 2015

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Perspectives

I’ve got Parkinson’s and cancer: Billy Connolly’s tear-jerking appeal

Recipes & Nutrition

How to plan nutritious easy-to-chew meals for people with Parkinson’s

Global update

Global Parkinson’s song competition

Study suggests why neurons die in Parkinson’s disease

Researchers have finally identified brain cells linked to Parkinson’s disease

Tiny DBS implant shows potential to advance Parkinson’s disease treatment

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