MHRC Research Seminar: Recent Advances in Brain Stimulation Research for Mental Health

Enjoy free admission, all are welcome.

* Seats are limited and will be allocated on a 'first in, first served' basis.
* Online link will be provided if the seats are full.

Research Theme: Recent Advances in Brain Stimulation Research for Mental Health

Topic: Applications of Transcranial Brain Stimulation in the Treatment of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Speaker: Dr Hanna Lu, Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry, CUHK
Abstract:
Transcranial brain stimulation, as a non-invasive neurotechnology, is increasingly used in investigating the cognitive function and treating brain disorders. Based on different types of energy and waveforms, there are a great many different types of brain stimulation, including current, magnetic, ultrasound and light. Over the past decades, research has advanced our understanding of brain stimulation by conducting clinical trial. However, great heterogeneity (i.e., inter-individual variances) in treatment outcomes has limited the utilities of transcranial brain stimulation in clinical practice at individual level.

In this lecture, Dr. Lu will introduce the current utilities of transcranial brain stimulation in age-related neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD), Parkinson’s disease (PD), and discuss the framework of personalized brain stimulation using individual neuroimaging data-informed head model.

Topic: Optimizing the Antidepressant Efficacy of Therapeutic rTMS
Speaker: Dr Georg S. Kranz, Assistant Professor, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, PolyU
Abstract:
Recent research has revealed transcranial magnetic brain stimulation therapies capable of reaching 90% remission for treatment-resistant depression. These findings necessitate the attention of clinicians and therapists, as it may represent the most effective treatment for depression to date. Dr. Kranz will provide the latest results on these highly promising treatment approaches and will try to bridge the gap between scientific data and the application of these approaches in daily clinical routine.

Topic: Introduction of the latest NIBS technology- Efficacy and safety of Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) in patients with Major Depressive Disorder
Speaker:
Dr Teris Cheung, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, PolyU
Abstract: Transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS) is a latest non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) technology that has been proven to be effective in terms of significantly improving Alzheimer patients' cognition, memory, and execution functions. Nonetheless, there is, currently, no trial evaluating the efficacy of TPS on adults with major depression disorder (MDD) nationwide. Our recent work showed a significant intervention effect on depressive symptoms after 2-week TPS treatment; in addition, the effect was large and sustainable at the 3-month follow-up. In this pilot randomized controlled trial, it was found that TPS is effective in reducing depressive symptoms among adults with MDD.