Prevention of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias by Transcranial Static Magnetic Field Stimulation (tSMS)

Prevention of Levodopa-induced Dyskinesias by Transcranial Static Magnetic Field Stimulation (tSMS)

This is a randomized sham-controlled double-blind study to test the hypothesis that transcranial static magnetic field stimulation (tSMS) of the motor cortex improves levodopa-induced dyskinesias in patients with Parkinson's disease. Half of the patients will receive real tSMS treatment, the other half will receive sham treatment (placebo).

Inclusion Criteria:

• advanced idiopathic Parkinson's disease (Brain Bank criteria)
• optimal clinical response to dopaminergic medication (>30% UPDRS-III improvement)
• presence of clinically relevant levodopa-induced peak-dose dyskinesias in at least one upper limb

Exclusion Criteria:

• MRI-incompatible metal objects in the body (e.g. cardiac pacemakers)
• other main neuropsychiatric co-morbidity