Pathophysiology of stroke-induced neurogenic bladder and development of non-invasive treatment using transcutaneous bladder interferential wave electrical stimulation

2023 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 19K19796
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Early-Career Scientists
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Review Section: Basic Section 59010:Rehabilitation science-related
• Research Institution: Kagoshima University
• Principal Investigator: Ohama Rintaro 鹿児島大学, 医歯学域鹿児島大学病院, 助教 (50773008)
• Project Period (FY): 2019-04-01 – 2024-03-31
• Keywords: 神経因性膀胱 / 脳卒中 / 経皮的膀胱干渉波電気刺激 / 物理療法 / fNIRS / 脳血流

Outline of Final Research Achievements

Cerebral blood flow in the prefrontal cortex was measured to confirm changes in voiding function and brain activity before and after treatment with transcutaneous bladder interference wave electrical stimulation to clarify the mechanism of stroke-induced neurogenic bladder. Treatment with transcutaneous bladder interference wave electrical stimulation was effective for neurogenic bladder with different types of hypoactive and overactive bladder, and changes were also observed in cerebral blood flow, where excessive activity was stabilized and reduced cerebral activity was appropriately activated.
These findings suggest that neurogenic bladder caused by stroke shows different findings of brain activity in other symptoms, that transcutaneous bladder interference wave electrical stimulation is effective in all symptoms, and that the correction of prefrontal cortex activity may be involved in the mechanism.

Free Research Field

リハビリテーション医学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

脳卒中に起因する神経因性膀胱はしばしば脳卒中に合併し、在宅生活や社会生活を困難なものにし、介護者の負担を増大させる要因であるにもかかわらず、発症のメカニズム解明や治療方法の開発が世界的にも進んでおらず、臨床場面においても看過されてきた現状があった。今回の研究成果から、対症的な薬物療法が主であった脳卒中に起因する神経因性膀胱に対し、電気刺激による物理療法が有効であることを示し、脳活動のレベルからの治療法の開発の端緒となると考えられ、今後はリハビリテーション科量機器から泌尿器科や脳神経内科、脳神経外科領域での研究対象となりうる可能性を示すことができたと思われる。