Research Alert
Title: Safety and tolerability of a wearable, vibrotactile stimulation device for Parkinson’s disease
Journal: Frontiers
Embargo lifts: November 17, 2021 11pm EST
Author: David Putrino, PhD, Director of Rehabilitation Innovation for Mount Sinai Health System
Bottom Line: A new wearable device may be a safe and effective way to reduce resting tremors in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The technology, which sends vibrations when placed on the ankle or wrist, sends signals the brain to disrupt rhythms that cause tremors. This could be a promising new therapy, potentially eliminating the need for continuous medication or surgery, which are the current treatment options for reducing tremors in this patient population.
What the Research Shows: The study shows that most patients who wore the technology for a short time had a reduction in tremors while receiving the vibrating pulses. The device also had no adverse effects—it was safe and well tolerated. While the technology did not have a lasting effect after patients stopped receiving the pulse, it did reduce tremors as vibrating pulses were delivered, regardless of the strength or pattern of vibration.
Why the Study Is Important: Resting tremor is a cardinal symptom of Parkinson’s disease that contributes to the physical, emotional, and economic burden of the disease. Patients have few options for managing the severity of their symptoms. Using vibrating pulse is a technique that has been discussed for decades as a possible remedy, however no concrete research has been executed to look into the effects of this on patients with Parkinson’s disease. This study is the first to evaluate the safety and efficacy of wearable technology for resting tremors in this specific patient population. With further research, the technique could lead to a future noninvasive treatment option.
How Research Was Conducted: Researchers conducted the study at the Abilities Research Center—part of Mount Sinai’s Department of Rehabilitation and Human Performance. They analyzed 44 patients with Parkinson’s disease, all with some degree of resting tremors. Each participated in two sessions within a two-week time frame while wearing the device. They received different degrees of vibrating pulses (including levels of intensity and vibration patterns) in 10-minute sessions. Investigators recorded tremors at baseline and for the duration of the applied technology.
Quotes:
“In any safety and feasibility trial, we hope to show that the technology is safe and well tolerated by the target population. In this study, in addition to confirming the safety and feasibility of the technology, we were excited to see early signs that the technology may also be effective in reducing tremors in some patients with Parkinson’s disease. This is a very promising and novel potential therapy,” says Dr. Putrino. “We hope this study will prompt larger controlled studies to investigate this technology. The next step is to pursue a large placebo-controlled clinical trial to ensure effects are authentic and real.”
About the Mount Sinai Health System
The Mount Sinai Health System is New York City's largest academic medical system, encompassing eight hospitals, a leading medical school, and a vast network of ambulatory practices throughout the greater New York region. We advance medicine and health through unrivaled education and translational research and discovery to deliver care that is the safest, highest-quality, most accessible and equitable, and the best value of any health system in the nation. The Health System includes approximately 7,300 primary and specialty care physicians; 13 free-standing joint-venture centers; more than 410 ambulatory practices throughout the five boroughs of New York City, Westchester, and Long Island; and more than 30 affiliated community health centers. The Mount Sinai Hospital is ranked in U.S. News & World Report's "Honor Roll" of the top 20 U.S. hospitals and among the top in the nation by specialty: No. 1 in Geriatrics and top 20 in Cardiology/Heart Surgery, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology/GI Surgery, Neurology/Neurosurgery, Orthopedics, Pulmonology/Lung Surgery, Urology, and Rehabilitation. Mount Sinai Kravis Children's Hospital is ranked in U.S. News & World Report’s “Best Children’s Hospitals” among the country’s best in four out of 10 pediatric specialties. New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai is ranked among the Top 20 nationally for ophthalmology. The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai is one of three medical schools that have earned distinction by multiple indicators: ranked in the top 20 by U.S. News & World Report's "Best Medical Schools," aligned with a U.S. News & World Report "Honor Roll" Hospital, and No. 14 in the nation for National Institutes of Health funding. Newsweek’s “The World’s Best Smart Hospitals” ranks The Mount Sinai Hospital as No. 1 in New York and top five globally, and Mount Sinai Morningside as top 20 globally, and “The World’s Best Specialized Hospitals” ranks Mount Sinai Heart as No. 1 in New York and No. 4 globally and the Division of Gastroenterology as No. 3 globally. For more information, visit https://www.mountsinai.org or find Mount Sinai on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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