Current Parkinson’s treatment options, which include medications and deep brain stimulation, have serious side effects, including risk of brain hemorrhage and infection. US researchers have now investigated a new method to manage Parkinson's symptoms that can overcome these drawbacks. 94 patients were randomly assigned to undergo focused ultrasound ablation of the targeted region on one side of the brain or a sham procedure. Nearly 70% of patients in the treatment group showed improved motor function or reduced dyskinesia after three months of follow-up, compared to 32% in the control group.
The procedure involves targeting the globus pallidus of the brain to provide a real-time temperature map, to precisely locate and ablate the target area using high temperature. Clinicians can make adjustments based on the patient’s feedback during the procedure. The procedure does not require…
