Focused ultrasound is a promising treatment alternative to invasive brain surgery in patients with a specific form of Parkinson’s disease, according to new research.
University of Virginia Health System neurology experts evaluated the approach in 40 volunteers with asymmetrical Parkinson’s symptoms, which affect one side of the body more than the other. Participants who received the ultrasound treatment reported greater improvement in their symptoms compared to those who received simulated treatment.
With further testing, this minimally invasive alternative may benefit many who suffer from Parkinson’s disease, Jeff Elias, MD, a neurosurgeon at UVA Health, said on Thursday.
“This small brain region, the subthalamic nucleus, had a very strong and potent effect on Parkinsonian symptoms when we targeted it with precise, focused ultrasound energy,” Elias, also a pioneer in the field of focused ultrasound, added in a statement. “The key to the ultimate adoption of this new procedure will be further refinements of the technology to ensure reliability and safety.”
The UVA team collaborated with Spain’s Centro Integral de Neurociencias to test their approach in 40 volunteers, 27 of whom received focused ultrasound, while 13 underwent a simulated treatment. Before this randomized, double-blinded study, and afterward, patients were asked to assess their symptoms on a scale of 1-44.
Overall, participants in the focused ultrasound group said their symptoms improved by 10 points, compared to the nearly two-point difference in the other group.
Most side effects were temporary and included unwanted movements, muscle weakness, speech disruption, and difficulty walking. In some patients, however, these symptoms lasted for nearly one year.
Manufacturer of the ultrasound technology InSightec supported this research. You can read the entire study, published on Dec. 24 in the New England Journal of Medicine, here.
Matt joined Chicago’s TriMed team in 2018 covering all areas of health imaging after two years reporting on the hospital field. He holds a bachelor’s in English from UIC, and enjoys a good cup of coffee and an interesting documentary.