Brain heating reduces tremors and foot unsteadiness in Parkinson’s disease patients.
According to new US research, the treatment involves warming certain regions of the brain to eliminate faulty cells, and it is effective in 70% of patients, with benefits lasting up to a year.
It entails donning a helmet that emits high-frequency energy while the patient sits beneath an MRI scanner, which transmits images back to the physicians to determine which areas to target.
The procedure, known as focused ultrasound, is already available in the National Health Service to treat essential tremors.
According to the study’s findings, it is equally effective in treating Parkinson’s disease. The University of Maryland School of Medicine researchers discovered that three-quarters of those who underwent the procedure experienced a reduction in tremor and mobility issues, compared to only one-third of the control group.
Parkinson’s disease affects approximately 145,000 individuals in the United Kingdom, and there is no cure. Dopamine-producing cells die, disrupting brain cell signalling. This can result in tremors, equilibrium issues, and muscle stiffness.
Medications, such as levodopa, can be prescribed by doctors to increase dopamine levels in the brain. Long-term use, however, can exacerbate mobility issues, among other adverse effects. Surgery may also be made available.
Deep brain stimulation is performed by implanting a device similar to a pacemaker within the thoracic wall. It is connected to microscopic wires that run through the damaged regions of the brain.
It’s electrical current reprograms the malfunctioning brain signals that cause the symptoms. However, only a limited number of patients are physically fit enough to endure the procedure.
However, focused ultrasound does not require surgery, so patients can return home the same day. It employs powerful ultrasound waves – 40,000 times stronger than those used in ultrasound scans – to heat and destroy regions of the brain that are emitting erroneous signals.
The procedure lasts several hours and does not require anesthesia.
Dr. Becky Jones of Parkinson’s UK said the study gives ‘hope that targeted ultrasound could be a prospective treatment.
However, she cautions, ‘We still require a greater comprehension of the side effects and the reasons why focused ultrasound may work for some individuals but not others.
Before this could be made available to persons with Parkinson’s on the NHS, additional research is required.
