3 Things to Know About Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) 

3 Things to Know About Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

Disclaimer: this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. This blog is not taken as medical advice or used as a substitute for such. You should always speak to your own doctor or medical professional.

The use of electromagnetic current to treat various conditions has fascinated the medical profession since ancient Greece. Over the centuries, studies have often been lacking, leading to much skepticism in the medical profession. Today, there is a strong collective interest in non-invasive, alternative, and natural remedies, leading to more research and refinements in transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). Results of these studies have been positive for many conditions, and FDA approval was granted in 2008 for patients with a confirmed diagnosis of major depressive disorder (MDD) combined with medication failure or intolerance.

Today, we will provide some basics on TMS to help you understand more about it, the history, research, devices used, and what discoveries led to TMS FDA approval. Three Things to Know About Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Research into TMS is ongoing and may soon result in more approved diagnoses. For those new to TMS who would like to learn more, we’ve chosen three of our most frequently asked questions to provide context.

1. A Brief History of TMS Experiments into bioelectricity began in the 1700s when scientists discovered how our nerves carry and transmit electrical current through the body’s nervous system. Early findings also showed that our tissues are an electrical source. Still, it wasn’t until the 1870s that researchers discovered that low-intensity electrical stimulation to the brain could reveal neural pathways, providing a detailed map to help understand what parts of the brain were responsible for specific motor functions. Magnetic fields were used in the 1960s for muscle stimulation, but it wasn’t until the mid 1980s that the first TMS device was created. At that time Dr Baker and his colleagues invented the initial type of TMS in Sheffield, UK. (1). By the 1990s, TMS was being used in studies to treat depression with positive results, leading to FDA approval in 2008 for that diagnosis, followed by mainstream acceptance of the treatment for depression.

Today, TMS is covered by most insurance and is considered a viable approach in cases where patients have not improved on drug treatment or cannot tolerate the drugs.

2. TMS Technology and Research Current advances have made it possible to deliver transcranial magnetic stimulation through repetitive pulses over any part of the cortex (2), abbreviated to rTMS. In the beginning, rTMS was restricted to diagnoses of neuro-motor disorders. Today, it is considered a safe, non- invasive treatment with good outcomes for patients diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD). Research continues to introduce improvements in TMS delivery systems. Treatment is painless and requires no sedation. Patients receiving TMS therapy experience no downtime and can usually go about their day as usual before and after each procedure.

3. Approved TMS Devices. There are several approved TMS devices. Some of those listed here are FDA-cleared for the treatment of MDD in adults. While TMS machines vary in appearance and features, most are similar because they are in-office devices that provide detailed patient-specific data that allow providers to view and track treatment results over time.

• Neuronetics The Neuronetics by Neurostar™ machine launched in 2003 and was responsible for funding early pilot studies that led to a standardized treatment approach. Neuronetics is a patented innovation and was the first FDA-approved TMS device in the US, and they continue to advocate for the industry.

• BrainsWay The BrainsWay device has several applications beyond MDD and is frequently used to treat addiction, smoking cessation, and aid in stroke rehabilitation. The company is based in Israel and holds a trademark on the term “Deep TMS,” a technique targeting a larger cerebral cortex area.

• MagStim MagStim offers a non-MRI navigation system, making it much simpler to deliver TMS to the correct areas of the brain. The company is based in the UK, where the first TMS machines were produced in 1985. While MagStim is indicated for depression, anxiety, and OCD.

• Mag & More ‘Apollo’ Mag & More is a German company known for their unique chair and device designs and navigation systems was cleared by FDA in 2018. (3)