Exploring a Novel Approach for Tourette's Syndrome: Insights about Magnetoencephalography Neuromodulation Stimulation

Exploring a Fresh Approach for Tourette's Syndrome: Insights into MNS Therapy

In a groundbreaking study conducted at the University of Nottingham in the U.K., researchers have discovered a potential new treatment for Tourette Syndrome (TS). The study, led by Dr. Stephen Jackson, and co-authored by Professor Stephen Jackson, has shown that median nerve stimulation (MNS) can significantly reduce tic frequency, tic intensity, and the urge-to-tic in people with TS.

The research involved 19 participants with TS, who were observed for random 1-minute periods. During these periods, participants received constant rhythmic pulses of MNS to their right wrist, while in other periods, they received no stimulation. One of the participants, a 21-year-old named Charlie from Lincolnshire, found the experiment surreal, as the electrical pulses on his wrist decreased his tic urges.

Charlie, who has had TS for three years, has tried various treatments, including medications, therapies, and diet changes, but found no relief. He learned about the study through Tourettes Action, a charity that has been supporting him. During and after the sessions of stimulation, Charlie noticed a decrease in his tics.

Suzanne Dobson, chief executive of Tourettes Action, believes the treatment could change the lives of thousands with TS. The findings of the study have been published in the journal Current Biology. Tourettes Action helped fund the research.

Interestingly, the stimulation had the most significant effect on those individuals with the most severe tics. Tics are often preceded by a strong urge-to-tic, referred to as a premonitory urge. MNS involves administering repetitive trains of stimulation to a person's median nerve at the wrist.

The study's lead author, Barbara Morera Maiquez, expressed her excitement about the potential of MNS as a treatment for TS. The research at the University of Nottingham continues to explore the possibilities of this treatment, offering hope for those living with TS.