Non-Invasive Brain Treatment for Parkinson’s Tremors: How Focused Ultrasound Works

Non-Invasive Brain Treatment for Parkinson’s Tremors: How Focused Ultrasound Works

Parkinson’s disease affects a patient’s ability to move, balance, and coordinate their actions and is a progressive disease, meaning it begins mildly and worsens over time. One of the disease’s main symptoms is the presence of tremors, or involuntary shaking, which makes it hard to perform even the most basic tasks like writing, eating, or holding items. There are currently two main ways to treat Parkinson’s disease: taking medication or undergoing surgery. Recently, however, scientists have been focusing on new treatment options, which are designed to improve a patient’s quality of life while eliminating the risks that can accompany surgery.

One of the most exciting new options is the currently developing treatment known as Focused Ultrasound. Focused Ultrasound is a new, non-surgical treatment option that shows promise for the treatment of tremors, as it will not require any incisions to the brain. Patients are excited about the possibilities of this new treatment, as many have been left with little to no options for managing their symptoms via medication.

Understanding Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease is caused by the gradual breakdown of certain nerve cells, or neurons, which are responsible for the production of the neurotransmitter dopamine. Dopamine is one of the key chemicals responsible for the regulation of dopamine and coordination.

With the brain’s dopamine supply compromised, it loses control over muscle movement, which leads to the symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease, like stiffness, tremors, and sluggish movement.

Most people with Parkinson’s disease are over 60, but it can sometimes happen to younger people as well. Symptoms can take years to develop, and the condition usually progresses slowly.

Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms

Parkinson’s Disease symptoms can be different from one person to the next. Often, the early stages of the disease are not clearly recognized as symptoms of the disease.

Common symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease include:

• Shaking – Shaking usually starts with one hand and may advance to other parts of the body. Shaking usually occurs at rest.

• Parkinson’s Bradykinesia – Parkinson’s Bradykinesia is used to describe the condition where people notice that their movements have become slower.

• Muscle Stiffness – Muscle stiffness leads to discomfort, loss of flexibility and can adversely affect posture and the way a person walks.

• Balance and posture problems – Some people have difficulty staying balanced and may have a tendency to walk in a slouched posture.

• Speech and Writing – Some people become soft and slow in their speech. Writing may become smaller and more cramped.

Besides the motor symptoms, individuals who have Parkinson’s disease experience a number of other issues, such as sleep problems, fatigue, anxiety, constipation, smell blindness, and loss of smell.

How Parkinson’s Disease is Diagnosed

Currently, the primary means of diagnosing Parkinson’s disease is through clinical evaluation, as there is no blood or laboratory test that can confirm the condition.

A neurologist typically diagnoses Parkinson’s disease by:

• Reviewing the patient’s medical records
• Watching the patient and observing their symptoms and the way they move
• Evaluating the patient for problems with balance, coordination, and stiffness in the muscles
• At times, the neurologist may order imaging studies, such as MRI or other types of brain imaging, to exclude the presence of other neurological diseases.

Diagnosing Parkinson’s disease early allows physicians to initiate treatment and improve the patient’s quality of life by managing the patient’s symptoms more efficiently.

Conventional Remedies for Shaking Caused by Parkinson’s Disease

The first treatment to be tried for Parkinson’s Disease is to provide medications that enhance or mimic the effects of dopamine in the brain. These medications can improve the patient’s symptoms, particularly during the early stages of the disease.

However, after a period of time, they may reach a point where medications can no longer provide as much benefit as they did previously in controlling the patient’s tremors. In such circumstances, the physician may provide advice regarding more sophisticated treatments.

Focused Ultrasound is different from Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), which relies on surgical procedures. DBS surgery puts electrodes on the brain to track abnormal signals. Although DBS is quite effective due to the brain surgery aspect, it is not suitable for every patient.

This is the reason newer technologies like Focused Ultrasound have become popular.

How Ultrasound Waves are Used

The Focused Ultrasound treatment is an innovative therapy that uses strong, precise ultrasound waves to target specific brain areas where tremors originate.

This treatment uses an MRI to locate areas that cause tremors in the brain. The MRI allows the doctor to visualize the tremors, which means doctors can deliver ultrasound treatments more accurately.

The general strategy of Focused Ultrasound treatment can be explained in the following steps:

• The patient receives general anaesthesia before lying in the MRI.
• The doctor has selected the target region in the brain which is responsible for the tremors.
• The doctor directs an array of ultrasound waves that will converge into one area.
• These waves are able to generate sufficient heat to disrupt the brain areas responsible for the tremors.
• These ultrasound waves can move through the brain and do not require surgical modification.

Focused Ultrasound Benefits

Focused Ultrasound treatment surgery has a greater risk than Focused Ultrasound therapy.

No Surgical Incisions

Because there’s no cutting of the skull, the likelihood of infection is decreased.

Sharp Accuracy

MRI technology helps determine if the doctor is in the correct place during the procedure.

Short Recovery Time

Many patients are able to leave the clinic the same day or the following day.

Tremors May Improve Instantly

Some patients may notice improvement in their tremors during the procedure.

Not having to go through the invasiveness of surgery is a major factor in considering Focused Ultrasound.

The advancement of technology, particularly in the field of medicine, is a contributing factor to the ease of completing these procedures. Medical specialists’ precision and safety in their practice are supported by entities like Vattikuti Technologies. Focused Ultrasound is one of the minimally invasive neurological procedures, such as surgery, that helps patients with Parkinson’s gain further access to care.

A Promising Step in Parkinson’s Care

Although Focused Ultrasound may not completely eliminate Parkinson’s disease, it is likely to improve the control of tremors in patients with the disease. This approach is likely to be integrated into future Parkinson’s disease care as technology and research continue.

Innovations in symptom control and quality of life are helpful for many people living with Parkinson’s disease.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are Focused Ultrasound treatments for Parkinson’s disease?
Focused Ultrasounds are a non-invasive technique that uses sound waves that are directed and tracked with MRI to treat the area of the brain that causes Parkinson’s disease tremors.

2. Is Focused Ultrasound safe?
Focused Ultrasound is safe and is even considered minimally invasive when performed by trained specialists. Focused Ultrasound does not use or require brain surgery or brain implants.

3. Who is considered to use Focused Ultrasound as a treatment?
Typical considerations for Focused Ultrasound is used for people with Parkinson’s Disease with uncontrollable tremors despite use of medication or people who are not qualified for other mainstay surgical treatments, such as Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) surgery. Supported advancements by Vattikuti Technologies are aiding in improving the reach of innovative treatments.