Can technology help the brain break the habit of smoking?
Every year on May 31, the world marks World No Tobacco Day, a reminder of one of the most persistent public health challenges of our time.
According to the World Health Organization (June 25), tobacco smoking is associated with more than 7 million deaths each year worldwide, including an estimated 1.6 million linked to secondhand smoke.
Read about an alternative approach that aims to directly modulate addiction-related brain circuits.
An alternative approach that aims to directly modulate addiction-related brain circuits was developed by our client, BrainsWay
Deep Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, or Deep TMS™ – a patented technology that is FDA approved for the treatment of Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), anxiety associated with MDD, OCD, and of particular relevance in this context, as an aid for short-term smoking cessation.
What is Deep TMS™ and how does it work?
Deep TMS™ is delivered through specially designed coils, engineered according to patented principles and housed within a helmet, through which brief high-intensity pulses generate magnetic fields that target relevant brain regions.
Relative to traditional TMS, BrainsWay’s patented H-Coil technology is designed to reach greater depths and broader brain areas, creating a more extensive electromagnetic field that can stimulate more neurons and help reduce targeting errors compared with more focal stimulation.
Unlike medication or nicotine replacement therapies, Deep TMS™ aims to directly stimulate the neural circuits involved in the addictive behavior and consequently to modulate physiology and ultimately behavior. The non-invasive brain stimulation technique is uniquely capable of promoting neuroplasticity – the brain’s ability to adapt and rewire itself by forming and reorganizing neural connections. For the Deep TMS treatment of smoking addiction, brain regions exposed to the electromagnetic field include those associated with reward circuits and addictive behavior, including the bilateral insula and prefrontal cortex. This may help reduce craving and the urge to continue smoking.
Deep TMS™ is noninvasive and does not require anesthesia, allowing patients to return to their daily routine after treatment. The acute phase of the smoking cessation protocol typically includes 18 sessions.
The treatment to aid smoking cessation is supported by clinical validation, including a sham-controlled pivotal study. It may be especially relevant for people who have tried standard methods without success.
