For more than 20 years, researchers have been studying TMS as a potential therapy for many neurological and psychiatric conditions. Today, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has cleared the use of TMS for the treatment of depression in adults who have been failed by antidepressants. FDA clearance for treating depression is a great guide that this treatment can help many patients suffering from other neurological and psychiatric conditions. There have already been a noteworthy amount of successful, carefully conducted clinical trials to show for it. For example, amazing research suggests that TMS can also help patients with symptoms of schizophrenia and improve movement rehabilitation after a stroke. However, it doesn’t yet have FDA clearance for these uses.
Heres The Top 5 off-label Uses for TMS:
Tinnitus Treatment
Tinnitus is described as a ringing or other phantom sounds in the ears or head. It is experienced by 10-15 percent of the adult population. Research shows that TMS therapy is a successful alternative for existing tinnitus therapies. It is probably shocking to read, but TMS has been successful in treating tinnitus because it is caused by malfunctioning pathological wiring in the brain. TMS focuses on the auditory regions of the brain. Expect TMS to be FDA approved for tinnitus in the near future, as it is one of the most studied off-label uses.
Stroke Recovery Treatment
About 750,000 people in the United States are affected each year by a stroke, making it the number one cause of disability for adults. Stroke was also the second leading cause of death worldwide in 2011 (6.2 million deaths). After several studies, TMS has been successful in treating patients right after they have had a stroke to activate areas of the brain that were damaged from the stroke. Following its success in stroke recovery, TMS has had positive attention in the health community and it will only continue.
PTSD Treatment
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is described as a dangerous anxiety response to a life-threatening situation that is triggered by places or events that remind patients of the traumatic experience. TMS administers short pulses of a magnetic field, stimulating the inactive or disrupted area of the brain or suppressing the overactive area of the brain, reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression associated with PTSD. TMS has shown promising results in healing wounded brains by fixing the chemical imbalance in the brain.
Autism Treatment
Autism is a complex developmental disability that typically appears during the first three years of life and is the result of a neurological disorder that affects the normal functioning of the brain. According to the Centers for Diseases Control, 1 in 68 American children has some sort of Autism. Autism Spectrum Disorder has seen a 3,000% increase in diagnoses in the last 30 years. Even though the research for TMS for the treatment of autism is still in its infancy, it is growing rapidly. TMS targets the part of the brain where there is an overactivity or over responsiveness in people with Autism. TMS can be paired up with a behavioral intervention when treating patients with Autism. After using TMS, patient John Robinson from Boston said he “gained a cognitive perspective that has greatly broadened his ability to read and recognize emotions.” Clinical trials have already suggested that TMS can help relieve autism symptoms like irritability and repetitive behaviors, along with improvements in eye-hand coordination and social skills.
Alzheimer’s Disease Treatment
Alzheimer’s Disease is described as a major cause of a severe cognitive decline in the elderly. The primary mental deficiencies are shown in working memory, language, executive functions, attention, and long-term memory. TMS has always been a great candidate to help relieve the symptoms that come with Alzheimer’s Disease. Celebrated studies have shown to have quick improvements in memory and cognition. In result, patients score higher points on the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive after undergoing TMS therapy.
