Weak magnetic fields in the treatment of Parkinson's disease with the "on-off" phenomenon.

Abstract

Application of external weak magnetic fields recently has been reported to be efficacious in the treatment of a 62-year-old patient with idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) complicated by levodopa-induced fluctuations in motor response ("on-off"). I report an additional case of a 67-year-old man with idiopathic PD and levodopa-related motor fluctuations who likewise experienced marked and sustained improvement in Parkinsonian symptoms and amelioration of "on-off" symptoms following the application of external weak magnetic fields. Based on these observations it is concluded that artificial weak magnetic fields may be beneficial for the treatment of PD complicated by levodopa-related "on-off" phenomenon. Furthermore, since in experimental animals external magnetic fields alter the secretion of melatonin, which in turn has been shown to regulate striatal and mesolimbic dopamine-mediated behaviors, it is proposed that the antiParkinsonian effects of weak magnetic fields are mediated via the pineal gland.