ABSTRACT
We conducted an open noncontrolled study of efficacy of repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) of the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) combined with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor (galantamine) therapy in 30 Parkinson's disease patients with cognitive impairment and higher level of gait disorders. Galantamine dose gradually increase to maximum of 16 mg/day (8 weeks) before rTMSand after that we start rTMS for 10 consecutive days. Cognitive, neuropsychiatric and motor symptoms were assessed clinically at baseline and at end of 10 weeks combined therapy using the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE), Freezing Of Gait (FOG), Clinical Gait And Balance Scale (GABS), Tinetti scale, the clock drawing test, the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB), PDQ-39 and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI). The metabolism in the frontal lobes, caudate nucleus, thalamus were assessed in 9 patients at baseline and end of rTMS by [18F]FDG-PET. Changes in total point scores on the scales at the ends of 10 weeks were compared with the baseline. Results were significant in the FOG (p = 0.00002), GABS (p = 0.000006), MMSE (p = 0.0001), FAB (0 = 0.003), PDQ-39 (p = 0.00009), BDI (p = 0.00004). Improvements in gait and decreases in freezing and falls were seen in the end of study period. Our study demonstrated the beneficial effect of rTMS of the DLPFC combined with acetylcholinesterase inhibitor treatment on metabolism in the frontal lobes, caudate nucleus, thalamus ([18F]FDG-PET), improving of gait and cognitive functions in PD patients.
