High-Frequency Repetitive Magnetic Stimulation at the Sacrum Alleviates Chronic Constipation in Parkinson's Patients

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Gastroenterology
• Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• Chronic constipation is a common and debilitating non-motor symptom in Parkinson's Disease (PD).
• Current treatments for PD-related constipation have limitations, necessitating novel therapeutic approaches.
• Sacral neuromodulation is a potential strategy for managing gastrointestinal dysfunction.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the therapeutic efficacy of high-frequency repetitive magnetic stimulation (HF-rMS) applied to the sacrum for managing chronic constipation in patients with Parkinson's Disease.
• To assess the impact of HF-rMS on constipation severity, motor function, mood, daily living activities, and quality of life in PD patients.

Main Methods:

• A randomized controlled trial involving 48 Parkinson's Disease patients with chronic constipation.
• Participants were assigned to either the HF-rMS group (n=24) or a sham HF-rMS control group (n=24).
• Clinical assessments included the KESS questionnaire, UPDRS-III, H-Y stage, MMSE, HAD-A/HAD-D, ADL, and PAC-QOL, measured before and after treatment.

Main Results:

• The HF-rMS group showed a significant improvement in KESS scores compared to the sham group, indicating reduced constipation severity.
• HF-rMS treatment led to significant improvements in mood (HAD-A/HAD-D), activities of daily living (ADL), and quality of life (PAC-QOL) in PD patients.
• No significant differences were observed in the changes of UPDRS III scores or MMSE scores between the two groups.

Conclusions:

• High-frequency repetitive magnetic stimulation applied to the sacrum is a safe and effective treatment for chronic constipation in Parkinson's Disease patients.
• HF-rMS offers a promising non-invasive therapeutic option to alleviate gastrointestinal symptoms and improve overall well-being in PD.
• Further research is warranted to explore the long-term effects and optimal parameters for HF-rMS in managing PD-related constipation.