How MRI-guided focused ultrasound can help treat movement disorders such as essential tremor and Parkinson’s.
Essential tremor is the most common movement disorder which causes tremor, or an involuntary shaking in the body, commonly in hands. The condition can make everyday tasks and activities challenging.
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative movement disorder that may lead to tremor, slowed movements and stiffness.
For many experiencing tremors or symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, medication does not control symptoms properly. For those people, focused ultrasound (FUS) can provide an effective, incision-free treatment option to manage symptoms and improve quality of life.
Understanding movement disorders
What is focused ultrasound?
Focused ultrasound is an incision-free, minimally invasive treatment for essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease, neurological conditions that cause involuntary shaking or tremor.
“During the procedure, we use ultrasound waves guided by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to precisely target the area of the brain that controls the tremor,” said Dr. Dario Englot, a neurosurgeon with the Vanderbilt Advanced Movement Disorder Therapies program. “We can create a small lesion in the exact spot of the brain which allows us to protect the healthy, surrounding tissue.”
“Since the procedure requires no anesthesia, the patient is awake,” Englot said. “This allows us to test for improvement of symptoms throughout the procedure.”
What conditions does focused ultrasound treat?
Focused ultrasound can be an option for people with tremor caused by essential tremor and Parkinson’s disorder who have not responded to medication. It can also be beneficial for people who have side effects of medication that affect daily life.
“Focused ultrasound does not stop the progression of these disorders, but it can help control symptoms and improve quality of life,” said Dr. Travis Hassell, a neurologist with the Vanderbilt Advanced Movement Disorder Therapies program.
Benefits of the treatment
“One major benefit for many people is that the procedure is incisionless,” Hassell said. “It is also an outpatient procedure which is more convenient for people.”
There are many benefits of ultrasound treatment, which may include:
- Outpatient procedure. This means people typically return home on the day of the procedure.
- Less invasive procedure. The procedure requires no general anesthesia, surgical incisions or implanted hardware.
- Immediate results. Most people experience an immediate reduction in tremor symptoms.
- Fast recovery time. People can return to normal activities within days of the procedure.
- Safe and effective with minimal side effects during and after treatment. Some people may experience mild side effects including imbalance, numbness, headache and dizziness after treatment.
Long-term results of focused ultrasound
The benefits of focused ultrasound are long lasting. Neurological conditions can worsen over time. Focused ultrasound will not stop the progression of these disorder, but it can continue to control symptoms for many years after the procedure.
Personalized care for movement disorders
The Vanderbilt Advanced Movement Disorder Therapies team has specialized training in the diagnosis and treatment for a range of movement disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor and dystonia. Personalized care plans offer a range of procedural options including Deep Brain Stimulation and Focused Ultrasound.
