Pavel Novak
Storz Medical AG, CH-8274 Tägerwilen, Switzerland
Title: Transcraniel Pulse Stimulation, TPS® reduces significantly the Alzheimer’s Disease Symptoms
Biography
Biography: Pavel Novak
Abstract
Acoustic waves, or shockwaves respectively are used in medicine since 1980. First application was for extracorporeal kidney stone disintegration. Meanwhile, low intensitiy acoustic waves proofed to be efficient for the treatment of non-unions, tendon and muscular pain, wound healing, heart insufficiency, erectile dysfunction, aesthetic and finally also neurological indications. The working principle is the mechanical stimulation of biological processes called mechanotransduction resulting in increased cell metabolism, release of nitrid oxide (eNO) and numerous growth factors like VEGF, BMP, TGF-β, GABA, BDNF and GDNF. There is also an anti-inflamatory effect and the stimulation of stem cells and the inate imune system. There are no significant side effects. Alzheimer’s disease or dementia in general is multi modal disease resulting from different causes like deposition of dedicated proteins (tau, beta-amyloid), inflamation, redused blood supply and others. This might be the reason why the phamaceutical solutions failed till now. On the other hand, the acoustic wave stimulation, or TPS with its broad scope of effects is more efficient. First the effect of acoustic pulses on brain was tested in-vitro and on behalf of animal tests (Sprague-Dawley rats) the safety margins were evaluated. The multicenter clinical pilot study with 35 patients showed a significant improvemet of the Alzheimer’s disease symptoms of 20% measured with CERAD Plus battery of tests. The treatment consisted of 6 sessions in 2 weeks, with 6000 pulses, energy flux density of 0.2 mJ/mm2 at 5Hz. These data were sufficient for the CE mark clearance in Europe. Further RCT studies are ongoing.