Migraine headaches may soon be controlled by a device that emits a powerful magnetic field through the skull, utilizing a technique known as TMS (Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation).
“Migraines stem from a condition of excessive neural stimulation, where patients experience flickering lights, shooting stars, or other manifestations of pain. After a phase of intense stimulation, the neurons become fatigued and drained, spreading throughout the brain, resulting in a massive headache,” says Dr. Yousef Mohammad, a neurologist at the Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center in Columbus and the author of the study.
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| Dr. Yousef Mohammad using the magnetic stimulator (Image: discovery) |
The research team’s idea is to halt the propagation of this fatigue sensation across the cortex using TMS technology.
In the study, patients were required to come to the hospital as soon as they began to feel a headache. A doctor would place the stimulator at the back of the patient’s head and activate two pulses, spaced 30 seconds apart, aiming to use the powerful magnetic field to shock the overly stimulated neurons.
Out of 42 participants, 19 received a “placebo” pulse.
As a result, 69% of those treated reported feeling very little or no pain two hours after receiving the pulse. In the placebo group, this figure was 48%.
After TMS, work function improved for 86% of headache cases, compared to 56% in the placebo group.
The research team did not report any harmful side effects from the TMS technique. Mohammad and his colleagues have initiated a larger randomized clinical trial.
However, another expert suggested that the results indicate the device may not be very effective.
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