A new therapy being trailed in Brisbane has the potential for multiple sclerosis (MS) patients to regain their quality of life.
Researchers at Mater Hospital Brisbane are involved in testing a treatment which targets brain cells with electromagnetic waves in a process known as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS).
Mater Hospital Brisbane Director of Neurosciences Andrew Swayne said rTMS had the potential to significantly relieve some of the main symptoms of MS, a chronic neurological disease which was commonly diagnosed in those aged 20 to 40.
Dr Swayne said in MS, the body’s own immune system mistakenly attacked and damaged the fatty material, called myelin, around the nerves.
He said there was currently no cure for the condition.
“Although there is no known single cause of MS, many genetic and environmental factors have been shown to contribute to its development.”
Dr Swayne said the current trial, involving more than 100 participants Australia-wide, had the potential to enable MS patients to regain or improve their quality of life.
“It ventures into an area that, so far, has proven out of reach for the MS population—maintaining or repairing health status.
“This trial is quite unique and is hopefully heralding a whole new era in MS where this technology and other technologies will be used to try and achieve, in time, remyelination or neuronal healing as part of the disease management.”
Dr Swayne said the current world-first, stage two clinical trial, measured the effects of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) on MS patients.
He said TMS was a procedure that used magnetic fields to stimulate nerve cells in the brain to improve symptoms of major depression.
“It is now being trialled on MS sufferers to manage issues including fatigue and to improve mood.”
