Dr. Folmer is a research investigator with the National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research at the VA Portland Health Care System and associate professor of Otolarynology/Head and Neck Surgery in the OHSU School of Medicine.
Credit: National Center for Rehabilitative Auditory Research at the VA Portland Health Care System/OHSU
This depression Rx tool holds tremendous promise for patients with debilitating condition. In the largest US clinical trial of its kind researchers found that transcranial magnetic stimulation significantly improved tinnitus symptoms for more than half of study participants.
“For some study participants, this was the first time in years that they experienced any relief in symptoms. These promising results bring us closer to developing a long-sought treatment for this condition that affects an enormous number of Americans, including many men and women who have served in our armed forces,” said Robert L. Folmer, Ph.D.
Tinnitus affects nearly 45 million Americans. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, nearly 15% of Americans experience some degree of tinnitus. Currently, there are no proven treatments available. Military veterans are at greater risk of developing the condition. Tinnitus is the most prevalent service connected disability in the VA health system. Study participants were a mix of veterans and non-veterans.
Folmer and colleagues used a TMS system that generates a cone-shaped magnetic field that penetrates the scalp and skull to interact with brain tissue. The higher the stimulation intensity, the deeper the magnetic field can penetrate and affect neural activity. Currently, the FDA has approved transcranial magnetic stimulation only for depression Rx.
METHOD: All 64 participants received 1 pulse of TMS/ second to their skull just above the ear to target the auditory cortex in the brain. Participants underwent TMS sessions on 10 consecutive workdays, receiving 2,000 pulses of TMS per session. Of the 32 participants who received the “active” TMS treatment, 18 people found their symptoms were alleviated for at least 6 months. To participate in the study, patients were required to have had tinnitus for at least a year or more.
A significant number of participants who had tinnitus for 20 years were pleased to receive some relief from TMS treatment. Dr. Folmer hopes to conduct a larger clinical trial to refine protocols for the eventual clinical use of TMS for tinnitus. http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2015-07/ohs-mpt071515.php
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