Clinical benefit of transcutaneous afferent patterned stimulation (TAPS) in essential tremor patients with high unmet need: a secondary analysis of TAPS studies

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BACKGROUND: Transcutaneous afferent patterned stimulation (TAPS) is a noninvasive neuromodulation therapy that improves hand tremor in essential tremor (ET) patients. The benefits of TAPS in ET patients with high unmet need (severe tremor, non-responsive to medication, age ≥65 years) and early responders (substantial TAPS tremor improvement in the first month) remains unknown. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Literature was surveyed for TAPS studies to assess the response in the high unmet need subgroup and early responders. Analyses were performed using previously collected Tremor Research Group Essential Tremor Rating Scale (TETRAS) scores, Bain & Findley activities of daily living (BF-ADL) scores, and tremor power. CONCLUSIONS: TAPS showed comparable improvements in ET with high unmet need as reported in the original studies, and greater efficacy in early responders. These findings inform patient selection and the trial process for identifying TAPS responders.