USA Today story based on one anecdote serves as promotional megaphone for Microsoft

Does the story adequately quantify the benefits of the treatment/test/product/procedure?

Not Satisfactory

It appears the “Emma” watch helped a patient regain some of her hand control, enough to draw her name (which was presumably impossible “for ages,” according to the patient) and a cleanly drawn square (when her pre-watch attempt was squiggly). But how much are the watch and its vibrations actually helping and for how long — we don’t know, because there’s no control group. It’s a sample size of one, and what’s shown in the video may very well be a placebo effect without either the patient, designer, or anyone else knowing.

Only a well-designed research study could responsibly attempt to determine the benefits of this device or its durability, but there doesn’t appear to be one. The story should have made this point very strongly.

Does the story seem to grasp the quality of the evidence?

Not Satisfactory

As we discussed above, the story needed to strongly point out that a study size of patient makes for very weak evidence. And that when larger controlled trials studies are done, the evidence can be tricky to assess–studies have shown the ability of placebo to stimulate the release of dopamine and improve symptoms, at least temporarily.

Does the story use independent sources and identify conflicts of interest?

Not Satisfactory

Readers sorely need the voice of a scientific and medical expert or two, especially one who’s well-versed in treatment methods for Parkinson’s, to assess the concept of this watch and any related research that speaks to its novelty (or lack thereof).

Does the story compare the new approach with existing alternatives?

Not Satisfactory

The Microsoft video embedded in the story states that there is no cure, and the story notes how the watch is not a cure. However, there’s no mention of any alternative treatments, and many exist. Some of the first-line medications (levodopa, dopamine agonists, anticholinergics) are very effective in controlling tremor. For patients with resistant symptoms, treatment with second-line medications (clozapine, amantadine, clonazepam, propranolol, neurontin) can be used. In patients with disabling refractory tremor, neurosurgical treatments including thermocoagulation and deep brain stimulation offer tremor control.

Does the story establish the true novelty of the approach?

Not Satisfactory

The story seems to imply that using vibrations to treat symptoms of Parkinson’s is a groundbreaking new concept. (The embedded video by Microsoft is even more suggestive, with one of its researchers saying, “I’m on to something, I’m on to something” after using the device).

However, vibration therapy is an idea that researchers have kicked around for at least a decade — for example, vibrating shoe soles to help patients walk faster and with more control, and a vibrating chair for “whole-body” therapy to treat multiple symptoms. Perhaps a vibrating watch-type device is a novel advancement, but at this stage, the research is far too preliminary to know.