Non-invasive Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Parkinson's Disease (VNS)

Parkinson Disease

The cVNS emits a low-voltage 5.56 KHz sinusoidal wave electrical signal bursts lasting 0.9 ms via two flat stimulation contact surfaces. (Figure 2) These bursts repeat once every 38 millisecond (ms). Each set of stimulation will be applied for 2 minutes. Stimulation current can be self-adjusted by the subject. This conventional stimulation waveform was approved by the US FDA for the treatment of migraines.

The eVNS emits the company-proprietary low-voltage of 3~8 KHz sine-variant smooth-transition wave electrical signal bursts lasting near 0.9 ms via two flat stimulation contact surfaces. These bursts repeat once in intervals of approximately 40 ms. A potential benefit of this waveform is that it can produce less unpleasant skin sensations at a given current intensity and this may enhance the subject to tolerate higher current intensity than that of the conventional stimulation.

The sVNS delivers mechanical motor vibrations to provide a similar perceptible stimulation feeling to the skin. No electrical stimulations are delivered. The device that delivers the sham stimulation is identical in appearance, weight, and user interface. A button to adjust "stimulation current" is also available in the sham device so as to allow the subject/caregiver to adjust the "stimulation current"

Timed UP and Go test: Participant sits back in a standard armchair with their back against the chair and hands resting on the armrests. Regular footwear and usual walking aids (like a cane or walker) are used. On the word "Go", the person stands up, walks a distance of 3 meters (10 feet) to a marked line or cone at a normal, safe pace, turns around, walks back to the chair, and sits down again. A stopwatch starts the moment the word "Go" is spoken and stops the moment the person's buttocks touch the seat. The results in second will be interpret to assist mobility and risk of falling. The longer the time, the high risk of fall

Using Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale to motor and non-motor symptoms. Score from 0 to 4. 0 is normal while 4 is severe/marked impairment

Using an app to track the mobility of participants in a 20 sec walking

Using Hong Kong Montreal Cognitive Assessment to evaluate the cognitive status. score from 0-30. The lower the score, the more cognitive impaired.

Using Geriatric depression scale which contain 15 questions. Score from 0-15. The higher the score, the more severe the depressed mood

To investigate any possibility and relativity of AE and SAE with the treatment

To investigate any possibility and relativity of the change of ECG with the treatment