Because of the link between stroke and VaD, and based on initial results of our stroke treatment, we hypothesize that chronic SPG stimulation may prove beneficial to VaD patients.
Typically, such an hypothesis is tested on animal models prior to human trials. However, in this case no good animal model exists (1). In addition, sufficient safety data about SPG stimulation in humans has been accumulated in BrainsGate's stroke clinical studies. As a result, BrainsGate decided to move directly into clinical studies for VaD.
A large number of patients and long follow-up periods are typically needed in clinical trials for testing treatments for diseases where there is a slow cognitive deterioration. However, SPG stimulation treatment offers a dramatically different approach which overcomes these hurdles: a single brain hemisphere can be selectively treated by stimulating the ipsilateral SPG, while maintaining the other hemisphere untreated as control. Treatment effect can then be assessed by comparing the two brain hemispheres for each patient. Using this methodology, each patient serves as his or her own control.
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References: 1. Hainsworth AH and Markus HS, "Do in-vivo experimental models reflect human cerebral small vessel disease? A systematic review", J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2008 (12):1877-91
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March 3, 2010
ISC 2010 San Antonio, TX
BrainsGate attends the International Stroke Conference (ISC) 2010 in San Antonio, TX > full story
November 17, 2009
Investigational neurostimulation device aims to reduce stroke damage
Stroke researchers at the Methodist Neurological Institute in Houston are the only ones in Texas to offer a novel device that might extend the acute stroke treatment window from three hours to 24 (PhysOrg.com)
> full story
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