Bio Electro Stimulation Therapy for Parkinson's Disease (BEST)

Effectiveness of Bio-Electro Stimulation Therapy for the Treatment of Motor and Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease - A Pilot Study

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction and non-motor symptoms. Here, the investigators propose in a pilot device feasibility trial to examine whether "Bio Electro Stimulation Therapy" (B.E.S.T.) with a small, non-invasive, handheld electronic device designed to apply micro current stimulation to a person's hand can ameliorate some of the symptoms of PD.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor dysfunction, cognitive impairment, and other non-motor symptoms. Here, we propose to use "Bio Electro Stimulation Therapy" (B.E.S.T.) using the "e-Tapper TT-R1"owned by Immumax International Co. Ltd., a Hong Kong based company. The "e-Tapper" is a non-invasive, handheld electronic device designed to apply micro current stimulation to a person's hand at specified points representing various body parts, such as the head, leg, or foot. This is one form of Bio Electro Stimulation Therapy, known as "11-point Hand Treatment System". The current delivered is less than one milliampere. Anecdotal evidence suggests that this micro current stimulation may reduce resting tremor, restore facial expressions, and improve ease of movement, mood, and sleep quality in patients with PD. Scientific evidence for the effectiveness of the B.E.S.T. Hand Therapy appears to be lacking in the English language (Western) literature. The goal of this pilot device feasibility study is to examine whether B.E.S.T. can increase physical activity and functional fitness, enhance cognition, improve mood and subjective sleep quality, and modulate resting tremor and gait parameters in PD patients over a 6-week period.

Electrical stimulation of the head point of the hand (EH, experimental stimulation); intervention with e-Tapper TT-R1

Electrical stimulation of the leg point of the hand (CS, control stimulation); intervention with e-Tapper TT-R1

The e-Tapper is a non-invasive, handheld electronic device designed to apply micro current stimulation to a person's hands at specified points representing various body parts, such as the head, leg, or foot. This is one form of "Bio-Electro Stimulation Therapy" known as the "11-point Hand Treatment System". The current delivered is less than one milliampere.

This questionnaire, called "The 39-Item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire" (PDQ-39) assesses how often people with Parkinson's disease experience difficulties in their lives in several domains, including mobility, activities of daily living, emotional well-being, stigma, social support, perceived cognition, communication, and bodily discomfort. A "PDQ-39 Summary Index" score will be calculated. Scores range from 0 (best quality of life) to 100 (worst quality of life).

Inclusion Criteria: High functioning without presence of cognitive impairment or dementia Native-English speaker or fluent in English Diagnosis of Parkinson's disease (Hoehn & Yahr stages I-III) Exclusion Criteria: Implanted medical devices, such as a pacemaker or defibrillator Prescription medication or other drugs that affect the brain (e.g. anti-depressants, anxiolytics), except prescription medication for the treatment of Parkinson's disease Poor vision that cannot be corrected with glasses or contact lenses Presence of musculoskeletal impairments (e.g. fractures, hemiplegia, chronic joint pain) Not being able to walk without assistance Diagnosis of dementia or mild cognitive impairment Diabetes mellitus Taking medications for diabetes mellitus Skin irritation, disease or wound on the hands Current heart conditions, such as congestive heart failure, tachycardia, or other arrhythmias History of heart attack Psychiatric or neurological disorders other than Parkinson's disease (e.g. Major Depressive Disorder, anxiety disorder, epilepsy)