EMBARGOED FOR RELEASE UNTIL 5:30 PM ET, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 21, 1999
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Laser Pointers May Help Parkinson's Patients
TORONTO (April 21, 1999) -- Laser pointers have been known to cause car accidents, create havoc for teachers and even damage a person's vision. What good can come out of this popular devise? Just ask some Parkinson's disease patients.
The common handheld laser pointer may help Parkinson's patients alleviate a sudden and temporary condition causing muscles to become stiff and unmovable, according to a study released during the American Academy of Neurology 51st Annual Meeting, April 17-24, in Toronto.
This condition is a common complication of Parkinson's disease known as sudden transient freezing. In many instances the problem is resistant to treatment by medication or surgery. However, it has long been recognized that using certain "sensory tricks" such as visual cues can help some patients overcome this temporary frozen condition.
"Using visual cues is ideal for Parkinson's patients, but until now there wasn't a simple and inexpensive tool available for patients to use on a daily basis," said neurologist and study author Lin Zhang, MD, PhD, of the University of Rochester in Rochester, NY. "In most cases, any type of laser pointer is effective in relieving freezing episodes."
In the study, researchers asked patients to "step" on the laser's light, which patients pointed two feet in front of themselves. Each participant was tested on the ability and speed in which he or she moved onto the light beam. A similar test measured the speed and ability of movement without a laser pointer.
Patients moved 30-percent faster when using a laser pointer. All patients reported a noticeable improvement in their ability to start walking and maintain movement.
The study group included three patients with Parkinson's disease and one additional patient with a disorder similar to Parkinson's disease. All patients experienced disabling freezing episodes while taking medication for Parkinson's disease.
"Although the study group is small, the results are encouraging for Parkinson's patients," said neurologist and co-author Timothy Counihan, MD, also from the University of Rochester. "When muscles freeze it's scary and frustrating for patients, and if laser pointers can improve their lives, it's worth a try."
The American Academy of Neurology, an association of more than 15,000 neurologists and neuroscience professionals, is dedicated to improving patient care through education and research.
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Editor's Note: Dr. Zhang will present the study at a poster presentation session during the American Academy of Neurology's 51th Annual Meeting in Toronto, on Wednesday, April 21, from 5:30 pm to 7:00 pm in Exhibit Hall C of the Metro Toronto Convention Centre.
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