Journal: Endocrine Abstracts 56 (2018)
Authors: A Ferrulli, M Adamo, S Massarini, L Luzi
Background:
Deep Transcranical Magnetic Stimulation (Deep TMS™) is a non-invasive modulation technique that has been shown to affect the mesolimbic and mesostriatal dopaminergic pathways. Consistent with this, Deep TMS is widely used as a therapeutic tool in neuro-psychiatric disorders associated with abnormal cortical excitability and dopaminergic activity, such as addiction. Hence, considering the dysfunctional role of PFC and dopaminergic reward system in controlling appetite, Deep TMS was suggested to be effective in reducing food craving and incontrolling body weight in obese subjects.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a single Deep TMS session on neuro-endocrine pathways in obesity.
Methods:
Fourtyobese patients (11 M, 29 M; age: 48.0±1.6; BMI: 36.3±0.7) were assigned to receive one session of high frequency (18 Hz, HF), low frequency (1 Hz, LF) or Sham stimulation via an H-coil Deep TMS. H-coil was targeted to stimulate Prefrontal Cortex and Insula, bilaterally. Metabolic and neuro-endocrine parameters were evaluated before and after a single Deep TMS session.
Results:
Following the 18 Hz Deep TMS session, a significant increase of norepinephrine was found (5.6±0.9 vs 6.5±1.2 ng/ml, +18.0±6.8%,P=0.01;P=0.05 vs LF); a rise in β-endorphins levels was also shown (0.338±0.049 vs 0.372±0.048 ng/ml, +13.9±4.6%,P=0.017;P=0.010 vs Sham;P=0.011 vs LF). In the same group, glucose levels significantly increased (90.2±4.1 vs 96.2±4.2 mg/dl, +7.0±1.8%,P=0.002), whilst leptin levels significantly decreased (66.9±10.5 vs 56.3±9.0 ng/ml, −16.3±3.0%,P=0.002). Furthermore, pituitary hormones significantly decreased after a single 18 Hz Deep TMS session, specifically TSH (2.71±0.25 vs 2.09±0.18 μU/ml, −20.7±4.7%,P=0.001)and prolactin (17.1±1.3 vs 10.6±0.8 ng/ml, −34.7±4.7%,P<0.0001). In the LF, a significant reduction of salivary cortisol was also observed (−29.4±9.3%,P=0.015).
Conclusions:
These results suggest that Deep TMS can acutely affect orexygenic pathways and metabolic parameters mainly via modulation of the sympathetic activity and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. The increase of β-endorphins could suggest a potential role of HF Deep TMS in inducing the dopaminergic system activation and therefore, in modulating the food reward system. Together these findings support the role of Deep TMS as a novel promising treatment for obesity.
