Transcranial magnetic stimulation, otherwise known as TMS, may have begun as a non-invasive means of helping with depression but it has also shown to be effective in reducing various sleep disorder symptoms. At the TMS Institute of Arizona, we are committed to helping patients improve their health without the use of medications or invasive procedures. According to a recent review published in Science Direct, standard TMS therapy was shown to be more effective in improving sleep quality compared to other treatments.
A team of researchers looked at a variety of studies that used TMS in patients with sleep disorders. This included low-frequency (LF) TMS that targets the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) as well as the posterior parietal cortex (PPC)—two of the parameters that the team found to be most effective in those with chronic primary insomnia. It works by reducing the cortical hyperexcitability, thus improving sleep quality. They found that both high and low frequency TMS, when applied on the primary motor cortex or supplementary motor cortex, comes with many benefits in helping those with restless leg syndrome (RLS). Finally, stimulating the upper airway muscles while participants slept, which was achieved by two different TMS protocols, improved airflow dynamics in some.
Getting the Sleep You Need
In one case report, it was found that high-frequency TMS was most effective in treating a patient with narcolepsy. A pilot study considered the possible benefits of TMS for sleep bruxism and found that it may also help with hypersomnia events in adolescents with depression. However, it is important to note that studies on TMS and sleep are relatively new and lacking. TMS was initially approved to treat depression in 2008, and in the past 15 years it has been effectively used to help with a variety of other mental disorders. Many sleep disorders stem from the brain, but it is also critical to consider other triggers (for example, sometimes it is obesity that is causing OSA via excess weight in the neck that closes the airway while you are asleep).
There are many types of sleep disorders, and TMS may not help with all of them. Still, this review study gives a promising look at how this non-invasive treatment may help some patients. The authors conclude that TMS “may contribute to the development of new non-pharmacological therapeutic options for several sleep disorders.” They are particularly interested in seeing how TMS works for those with insomnia, narcolepsy, and restless leg syndrome, which are all sleep disorders that have a high chance of being informed by brain cells not functioning as they should.
They recommend TMS be integrated with sleep-related neuroimaging information as a means of informing cortical excitability. “Further studies with larger patient samples, repeated sessions, an optimized rTMS setup, and clinical follow-up warranted to verify initial findings” is in order.
Should You Get TMS for Sleep Issues?
Depending on the type of sleep disorder you suffer, you may be a good candidate for TMS. We offer both standard and accelerated protocols so that therapy can fit into your schedule. TMS works by creating rapidly fired magnetic fields in key areas of the brain, all while you sit comfortably with a coil attached to your head. It is a comfortable process, but it may feel strange. TMS therapy can last anywhere from five days to a few weeks depending on you and your schedule. Results are designed to be long-lasting since they rework how the brain cells communicate with one another.
It is also important with sleep disorders to understand the core cause. For example, if sleep disorder symptoms are not being caused by brain activity, TMS will not help. There are often co-morbidities with sleep disorders that involve two or more mental conditions, such as anxiety and insomnia. The good news is that when this is the case, TMS can be a helpful tool. When anxiety creates insomnia, or vice versa, addressing one may help the other. To learn more about sleep disorders and TMS, and if you’re a good candidate, contact the TMS Institute of Arizona today by calling the office or filling out the online contact form.
