Good results from a small clinical trial of a thermal brain stimulation device for Parkinson's disease

[jeffreyn]

Non-invasive: puts warm air in one ear and cool air in the other ear.

Similar device already available in US and EU for episodic migraine.

parkinsonsnewstoday.com/201...

[Kevin51]

Good scientific study. I would like to know when this device becomes available.

[sharoncrayn]

July 18, 2019....

I wast not in love with this trial.

Good design in general. But small number of PD participants from a charity ward (actual number = 16 using the device) and a short use period of 2 months. Left me wondering about the "self induced belief" effect here.

I had some other problems: most importantly, understanding how they exactly measured the "on" periods. USPRS evaluations or subjectively assessed from the participants, if so, it raises some doubts in my mind about the validity of the 50% (from what?) improvement identified.

Termination of benefits, as stated, after 6 months or less suggests if this device is for real it will probably require continual use. Somewhat of a barrier for many older people.

Adverse effects, usually a hallmark of CTs, were extremely troubling to me. Why the large %? 70% of the AEs came from the TNM group. Let's think about that for a minute.

The device used was not the 4.0, but the 3.2. Would there have been a difference? Why not the 4.0? Perhaps I am missing something here.

Back to work.