New breakthrough on Parkinson's

New breakthrough on Parkinson's disease London - Arabstoday Patients with early-stage Parkinson's disease may be able to improve their symptoms by learning to regulate their brains, a study suggests. A group of five patients were able to increase their motor speed by monitoring magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of their own brain activity as they carried out a finger-tapping task. After a time, they had learned to alter activity in specific parts of the brain affected by Parkinson's. Similar biofeedback techniques have previously been used to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and combat chronic pain. Study leader Profesor David Linden, from the University of Cardiff, said: 'This is the first time that this neurofeedback technique has been used with patients with Parkinson's disease. 'Self-regulation of brain activity in humans based on real-time feedback is emerging as a powerful technique. In this study, we assessed whether patients with Parkinson's disease are able to alter their brain activity to improve their motor function. 'We found that the five patients who received neurofeedback were able to increase activity in brain networks important for movements and that this intervention resulted in an overall improvement in motor speed - in this case, finger tapping.' The findings were reported today in The Journal of Neuroscience. In total, 10 patients took part in the study, all with early-stage Parkinson's. Half were assigned to brain feedback and half were not. When their performance was compared, the feedback group did best. The scientists now hope to test the technique further in larger clinical trials. Prof Linden added: 'While this was a very small study, the key aim was to establish whether this technique may be feasible for sufferers. 'The training resulted in clinically relevant improvement of motor functions - so assuming patients can learn to transfer the strategies used during neurofeedback into real-life settings, it might also become possible to sustain the clinical benefits. 'We have to be clear: this research won't stop the progression of the disease nor should it offer sufferers false hope. But it does have the potential to alter the course of motor symptoms and possibly reduce drug requirements in early disease. 'This may have the effect of delaying more severe motor complications and improve the quality of life of patients affected by Parkinson's disease.'