Long before, a significant number of experts have regarded Multiple Sclerosis as a debilitating neurological disease that affects tens of thousands of Americans which often affects one's muscles, vision, mood, and concentration. Just like HIV and other dreaded disease, while there is currently no known cure for the condition, treatment options are made available for reducing the symptoms such as steroid drugs, which have been shown to speed up recovery. Now, in line with the continuous efforts to eradicate the disease, a new research have recently investigated the effects of cutting-edge cognitive training technology on people with multiple sclerosis
Cognitive Training Technology For MS Patients
Dubbed as transcranial direct current stimulation, Medical News Today reports that the new technology which also referred to as tDCS has been recently shown to improve some of the symptoms of MS. The tDCS device was allegedly created by Marom Bikson, Ph.D., a professor of biomedical engineering at The City College of New York, in partnership with Abhishek Datta, Ph.D., who is also the chief technology officer of Soterix Medical. Additionally, it was found that the team of researchers from the New York University's (NYU) Langone's Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center has conducted a feasibility study for tDCS, and the results were said to be published in the journal Neuromodulation: Technology at the Neural Interface.
Furthermore, according to reports revealed by PR Newswire, during the tDCS process, a low amplitude direct current is being applied through electrodes that is placed on the scalp with the use of a headset. As researchers have explained, the simulation has the ability to change cortical excitability in the brain by making it easier for neurons to fire, which is then seen to help in improving certain connections in the brain and speed up the learning that takes place during rehabilitation. NYU researchers have also added that participants with MS who used tDCS while playing the cognitive training computer games that has been designed to help the improvement of information processing abilities has showed significantly greater gains in cognitive measures than those who played the computer games alone.
Study Proposition
In one of her statements, study lead author Leigh E. Charvet, Ph.D., an associate professor of neurology and director of research at Langone's Multiple Sclerosis Comprehensive Care Center has revealed that the team's research shows that while tDCS is done remotely under a supervised treatment protocol, the device may provide an exciting new treatment option for patients with multiple sclerosis who cannot get relief for some of their cognitive symptoms. However, the authors have highly emphasized that while the technology is not backed by clinical research, Charvet strongly recommends that anyone wishing to try out this technology consult with their physician.
