For those unresponsive to medication, Parkinson’s symptoms greatly reduce quality of life. A study of brain focused ultrasound vs a sham procedure sought to identify responders 3 months posttreatment. Among the results of the 65 patients in the ultrasound group and 22 in the sham group:
- After 3 months: 69% vs 32% responded to treatment
- After 1 year: 70% of the ultrasound group responded
- 20 patients originally in the sham group underwent the ultrasound therapy and responded to the treatment
Coauthor Howard Eisenberg, MD a neurosurgeon at the University of Maryland Medical Center, commented, “These results are very promising and offer Parkinson’s disease patients a new form of therapy to manage their symptoms.” The study concluded, “Unilateral pallidal ultrasound ablation resulted in a higher percentage of patients who had improved motor function or reduced dyskinesia than a sham procedure over a period of 3 months but was associated with adverse events. Longer and larger trials are required to determine the effect and safety of this technique in persons with Parkinson’s disease.”
For more information, click here.