Further Observations on the Unique Efficacy of Picotesla Range Magnetic Fields in Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

External application of picoTesla range magnetic fields (MF) has been reported recently to be efficacious in the treatment of patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) including those who manifest levodopa-related dyskinesias. In the present communication, we present four additional Parkinsonian patients who showed, within a brief period of time, marked improvement in motor symptoms after therapy with MF. Three of the patients had been maintained on antiParkinsonian medication during treatment with MF while the fourth patient had never received pharmacotherapy. Improvement with magnetic therapy was noted not only in the motor sphere (resting tremor, gait apraxia, postural instability), but also in nonmotor aspects of the disease including mood, sleep, pain, anorexia, autonomic, and cognitive functions attesting to the unique efficacy of external picoTesla range MF in the treatment of Parkinsonism. Poverty of facial expression (hypomimia, "masked facies"), which correlates with the degree of striatal dopaminergic deficiency, is one of the clinical hallmarks of PD reflecting the severity of hypokinesia and rigidity in the orofacial musculature. In this report, we emphasize the effects of MF on the hypomimia of PD and provide visual documentation illustrating the changes in the patients' facial expression which follow treatment with MF.

II. Therapeutic Effects of Alternating Current Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields in Multiple Sclerosis

“…Tourette's syndrome, cerebral palsy, traumatic spinal cord injuries, epilepsy, migraine, depression, panic disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder, schizophrenia, and chronic pain syndromes (Sandyk, 1992b(Sandyk, , 1992c(Sandyk, , 1994dSandyk in press b;Anninos et al, 1991;Anninos, 1992a, 1992b;Sandyk and Derpapas, 1993b) have experienced benefit from its use either as an adjunct to pharmacological therapy or on its own. In addition, AC pulsed applications of picotesla flux density EMFs is beneficial in the treatment of sleep, mood, behavioral, and cognitive disorders in normal elderly individuals and it is believed that intermittent brief applications of these fields may also influence the aging process, which has been linked to progressive pineal failure (Sack et al, 1986;Rozenchwaig et al, 1987;Kloeden et al, 1990;Sandyk, 1990;Pierpaoh 1991;Trentini et al, 1991;Grad and Rosencwaig, 1993).…”

Effects of Picotesla Flux Electromagnetic Fields on Dopaminergic Transmission in Tourette's Syndrome

“…1992) which influence DA-mediated behaviors including apomorphine-induced stereotypy (Diamond & Borison, 1978;Seeger et al, 1980). Increased DA release also accounts for the beneficial effect of picotesla flux EMFs on the motor symptoms of Parkinsonism in drug naive and levodopa-treated patients (Sandyk, 1992 u ;Sandyk & Derpapas, 1993;Sandyk, 1994). The effects of picotesla EMFs in Parkinsonism are mediated through the DA D2 receptor since the blink rate, which has shown correlation with DA D2 receptor activity (Karson et al, 1984), increases after exposure to these EMFs (Sandyk, 1992 b;Sandyk & Derpaps, 1993).…”

The Long Term Impact of Treatment with Electromagnetic Fields on Visual Memory in Parkinson's Disease

“…Recently published case studies have demonstrated that extracranial application of AC pulsed electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in the picotesla range intensity produced improvement in cognitive functions in PD patients including reversal of neglect and enhancement of visuoperceptive and visuospatial performance (Sandyk, 1992;1993;1994;Sandyk & Derpapas, 1993;Sandyk & Iacono, 1993 a;6). These reports presented the short term effects of treatment with EMFs on right hemispheric functions in these patients.…”