Ultrasound treatment might relieve Parkinson tremors
Ultrasound may provide lasting relief from the involuntary muscle movements that are so debilitating to people with Parkinson's disease and another condition called "essential tremor," a small study concludes. The treatment is still scarce. but it appears to deliver significant and lasting tremor relief, Italian researchers report.
Ultrasound may offer permanent relief from repetitive muscle movements which are so painful to people with Parkinson's disease as well as another disorder called "critical tremor," a small study concludes. Even, healthcare is scarce. Yet substantial and lasting tremor relief appears to be delivering, Italian researchers say.
It's called "focused ultrasound." Though characterized as surgery, it's actually a noninvasive procedure that involves no Incisions.
It is called "focused ultrasound." Although it is characterized as surgery, it is in fact a non-invasive procedure which does not involve incisions.
For patients with uncontrolled muscle movements, clinicians use it to target beams of sound energy toward a small tremor-control center in the brain called the thalamus. The beams heat up the thalamus and destroy part of it. "The clinical application of this technique for neurological diseases is an absolute novelty." study author Dr. Federico Bruno, a radiologist at the University of L'Aquila in Italy, said in a statement. "Few patients know of this treatment option so far, and there are not many specialized centers equipped with the required technology."
Clinicians use this to aim sound energy beams into a small tremor control center in the brain called the thalamus for patients with uncontrolled muscle movements. The beams heat up the thalamus and kill some of it. "The clinical application of this neurological disease technique is an absolute novelty," writes Dr. Federico Bruno, a radiologist at L'Aquila University It said in a statement in Italy. "So far, few patients know about this treatment option and there aren't many specialized centers equipped with the technology required."
He pointed out that focused ultrasound received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval less than three years ago as a tremor-control treatment. Before then, patients had to rely on other interventions,according to Dr. Rachel Dolhun, vice president of medical communications for the Michael J. Fox Foundation in New York City. "Exercise, medication and surgical therapies such as deep brain stimulation are all possibilities for consideration," she noted.
He pointed out the U.S. provided focussed ultrasound. Approval of Food and Drug Administration as a tremor-control treatment, less than three years ago. According to Dr. Rachel Dolhun, vice president of medical affairs for the New York City Michael J. Fox Foundation, patients had to rely on other therapies before that. "Exercise, medicine, and surgical procedures like deep brain stimulation Are all considerable possibilities,
But exercise and medication don't always work. And while deep brain stimulation (DBS) targets the same brain area as noninvasive ultrasound, it is highly invasive.
Yet medicine and exercise don't always work. And although DBS targets the same region of the brain as non-invasive ultrasound, it is highly invasive.
Surgeons must enter the skull and chest to Insert wires, electrodes and a pacemaker-like pulse generator. It can also be tricky after surgery to calibrate the device to maximize tremor reduction and minimize unwanted side effects. Plus, Patients with heart and bleeding problems may be ineligible for the procedure. Dolhun and her team said, as are those with memory and thinking issues. The DBS equipment also requires vigilant maintenance, in the form of regular battery replacement.
To Insert wires, electrodes, and a pacemaker-like pulse generator, surgeons must enter the skull and chest. Calibrating the system to optimize tremor reduction and reduce adverse side effects can also be difficult after surgery. Besides, heart and hemorrhage patients can not qualify for the treatment. Dolhun and her team said, as did others with problems of memory and thinking. The Equi DBS Equipment often requires proper maintenance, in the form of frequent replacement batteries.
By comparison, focused ultrasound, though irreversible. "requires shorter hospitalization and is a fairly well-tolerated procedure even by more fragile patients," Bruno said.
By contrast, the ultrasound based, albeit irreversible. "Requires shorter hospitalization and is even more fragile patients a fairly well-tolerated procedure," Bruno said.
But does it work?
Bruno and his team tracked 39 patients (average age, 65) for just over a year after focused ultrasound treatment. Just over half (21) had Parkinson's. The rest had essential tremor (ET), a common type of tremor that may affect the hands, arms, legs, head, trunk and even tongue.
On average, participants had had tremors for more than a decade. None had responded to standard treatments.
But it does work?
Following intensive ultrasound care Bruno and his team monitored 39 patients (average age, 65) for just over a year. A little more than half (21) had Parkinson's. The rest had essential tremor (ET), a common type of tremor that can affect the hands , arms, legs, head, trunk and even tongue.
The participants had tremors for more than a decade on average. None had replied standard care Standard Therapies.
All underwent focused ultrasound, which is performed without general anesthesia on one side of the thalamus. (Doing ultra- sound on both sides could trigger speech, swallowing and thinking problems, so it is approved only for one side.)
Both have undergone concentrated ultrasound, which is conducted on one side of the thalamus without general anesthesia. (Doing ultra-sound on both sides may cause problems of voice, swallowing and thought, so it is only allowed on one side.)
The result? Thirty-seven of the 39 patients experienced immediate and significant tremor relief, and that relief held up over the next year. Both Parkinson's and ET patients reported marked improvements in their quality of life.
The Outcome? Thirty-seven of the 39 patients reported immediate and substantial relief from tremor, and the relief was sustained over the coming year. Both Parkinson 's patients and ET patients registered major changes to their quality of life.
For now, however, focused ultrasound is only available at a few specialized facilities worldwide. But both Bruno and Dolhun suggest that this may change.
However, based ultrasound is available for now only at a few specialist facilities worldwide. But Bruno and Dolhun both say this could change.
"There are a number of clinical trials testing focused ultrasound as a noninvasive procedure for other Parkinson's symptoms." Dolhun said. Those symptoms include duskiness, uncontrollable muscle movements that result in fidgeting, swaying, writhing, wriggling or head bobbing.
"There are a variety of clinical trials that assess focussed ultrasound as a non-invasive treatment for the symptoms of certain Parkinson's." Dolhun said. These symptoms include duskiness, uncontrollable muscle movements leading to fidgeting, swinging, writhing, wriggling, or bobbing of the head.
Bruno said other studies are investigating its potential for treating neuropathic pain, epilepsy and obsessive-compulsive disorders, as well as brain tumors. And as neuroimaging techniques improve, he predicts ultrasound's potential and availability will expand.
Bruno said other studies are investigating its potential to treat neuropathic pain, epilepsy, obsessive-compulsive disorders and brain tumors. And as neuroimaging techniques improve, he predicts the potential of ultrasound, and the availability will increase.
Bruno and his team are to present their findings next Wednesday at the Radio logical Society of North America annual meeting in Chicago. Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Bruno and his team will present their findings at their annual meeting in Chicago next Wednesday at the Radio Logical Society of North America. Usually, work discussed at meetings is considered preliminary before it is published in a peer reviewed journal.
Experts in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease suggest they are on the verge of developing new ways of identlfying the condition earlier - and better managing its debilitating symptoms. In a presentation Tuesday at the XXIV World Congress of Neurology in Dubai, researchers from the Center for Neurodegenerative Science at Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich, told more than 4,000 neurologists from around the world in attendance that recent studies suggest that other health conditions -- like rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, constipation, depression, hyposmia, anxiety and excessive daytime sleepiness may be predictors of the onset of the movement disorder.
Experts in Parkinson's disease diagnosis and care say they are on the verge of finding new approaches to earlier identlfy the disorder-and better control the crippling symptoms. At the XXIV World Neurology Congress in Dubai on Tuesday, researchers from the Center for Neurodegenerative Science at the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich, told more than 4,00 Neurologists from around the world attending recent research indicate that other health disorders — such as rapid eye movement sleep behavioral disorder, constipation, depression, hyposmia, anxiety and prolonged daytime sleepiness — may be predictors of the onset of motion disorder.
The Mayo Clinic describes rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep behavior disorder as a sleep disorder in which you physically act out vivid, often unpleasant dreams with vocal sounds and sudden, often violent arm and leg movements.
The Mayo Clinic defines rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep behavior disorder as a sleep disorder in which you physically experience vivid, sometimes disturbing dreams with vocal noises and unexpected, sometimes aggressive movements of the arm and the legs.
Ultrasound may offer permanent relief from repetitive muscle movements which are so painful to people with Parkinson's disease as well as another disorder called "critical tremor," a small study concludes. Even, healthcare is scarce. Yet substantial and lasting tremor relief appears to be delivering, Italian researchers say.
It's called "focused ultrasound." Though characterized as surgery, it's actually a noninvasive procedure that involves no Incisions.
It is called "focused ultrasound." Although it is characterized as surgery, it is in fact a non-invasive procedure which does not involve incisions.
For patients with uncontrolled muscle movements, clinicians use it to target beams of sound energy toward a small tremor-control center in the brain called the thalamus. The beams heat up the thalamus and destroy part of it. "The clinical application of this technique for neurological diseases is an absolute novelty." study author Dr. Federico Bruno, a radiologist at the University of L'Aquila in Italy, said in a statement. "Few patients know of this treatment option so far, and there are not many specialized centers equipped with the required technology."
Clinicians use this to aim sound energy beams into a small tremor control center in the brain called the thalamus for patients with uncontrolled muscle movements. The beams heat up the thalamus and kill some of it. "The clinical application of this neurological disease technique is an absolute novelty," writes Dr. Federico Bruno, a radiologist at L'Aquila University It said in a statement in Italy. "So far, few patients know about this treatment option and there aren't many specialized centers equipped with the technology required."
He pointed out that focused ultrasound received U.S. Food and Drug Administration approval less than three years ago as a tremor-control treatment. Before then, patients had to rely on other interventions,according to Dr. Rachel Dolhun, vice president of medical communications for the Michael J. Fox Foundation in New York City. "Exercise, medication and surgical therapies such as deep brain stimulation are all possibilities for consideration," she noted.
He pointed out the U.S. provided focussed ultrasound. Approval of Food and Drug Administration as a tremor-control treatment, less than three years ago. According to Dr. Rachel Dolhun, vice president of medical affairs for the New York City Michael J. Fox Foundation, patients had to rely on other therapies before that. "Exercise, medicine, and surgical procedures like deep brain stimulation Are all considerable possibilities,
But exercise and medication don't always work. And while deep brain stimulation (DBS) targets the same brain area as noninvasive ultrasound, it is highly invasive.
Yet medicine and exercise don't always work. And although DBS targets the same region of the brain as non-invasive ultrasound, it is highly invasive.
Surgeons must enter the skull and chest to Insert wires, electrodes and a pacemaker-like pulse generator. It can also be tricky after surgery to calibrate the device to maximize tremor reduction and minimize unwanted side effects. Plus, Patients with heart and bleeding problems may be ineligible for the procedure. Dolhun and her team said, as are those with memory and thinking issues. The DBS equipment also requires vigilant maintenance, in the form of regular battery replacement.
To Insert wires, electrodes, and a pacemaker-like pulse generator, surgeons must enter the skull and chest. Calibrating the system to optimize tremor reduction and reduce adverse side effects can also be difficult after surgery. Besides, heart and hemorrhage patients can not qualify for the treatment. Dolhun and her team said, as did others with problems of memory and thinking. The Equi DBS Equipment often requires proper maintenance, in the form of frequent replacement batteries.
By comparison, focused ultrasound, though irreversible. "requires shorter hospitalization and is a fairly well-tolerated procedure even by more fragile patients," Bruno said.
By contrast, the ultrasound based, albeit irreversible. "Requires shorter hospitalization and is even more fragile patients a fairly well-tolerated procedure," Bruno said.
But does it work?
Bruno and his team tracked 39 patients (average age, 65) for just over a year after focused ultrasound treatment. Just over half (21) had Parkinson's. The rest had essential tremor (ET), a common type of tremor that may affect the hands, arms, legs, head, trunk and even tongue.
On average, participants had had tremors for more than a decade. None had responded to standard treatments.
But it does work?
Following intensive ultrasound care Bruno and his team monitored 39 patients (average age, 65) for just over a year. A little more than half (21) had Parkinson's. The rest had essential tremor (ET), a common type of tremor that can affect the hands , arms, legs, head, trunk and even tongue.
The participants had tremors for more than a decade on average. None had replied standard care Standard Therapies.
All underwent focused ultrasound, which is performed without general anesthesia on one side of the thalamus. (Doing ultra- sound on both sides could trigger speech, swallowing and thinking problems, so it is approved only for one side.)
Both have undergone concentrated ultrasound, which is conducted on one side of the thalamus without general anesthesia. (Doing ultra-sound on both sides may cause problems of voice, swallowing and thought, so it is only allowed on one side.)
The result? Thirty-seven of the 39 patients experienced immediate and significant tremor relief, and that relief held up over the next year. Both Parkinson's and ET patients reported marked improvements in their quality of life.
The Outcome? Thirty-seven of the 39 patients reported immediate and substantial relief from tremor, and the relief was sustained over the coming year. Both Parkinson 's patients and ET patients registered major changes to their quality of life.
For now, however, focused ultrasound is only available at a few specialized facilities worldwide. But both Bruno and Dolhun suggest that this may change.
However, based ultrasound is available for now only at a few specialist facilities worldwide. But Bruno and Dolhun both say this could change.
"There are a number of clinical trials testing focused ultrasound as a noninvasive procedure for other Parkinson's symptoms." Dolhun said. Those symptoms include duskiness, uncontrollable muscle movements that result in fidgeting, swaying, writhing, wriggling or head bobbing.
"There are a variety of clinical trials that assess focussed ultrasound as a non-invasive treatment for the symptoms of certain Parkinson's." Dolhun said. These symptoms include duskiness, uncontrollable muscle movements leading to fidgeting, swinging, writhing, wriggling, or bobbing of the head.
Bruno said other studies are investigating its potential for treating neuropathic pain, epilepsy and obsessive-compulsive disorders, as well as brain tumors. And as neuroimaging techniques improve, he predicts ultrasound's potential and availability will expand.
Bruno said other studies are investigating its potential to treat neuropathic pain, epilepsy, obsessive-compulsive disorders and brain tumors. And as neuroimaging techniques improve, he predicts the potential of ultrasound, and the availability will increase.
Bruno and his team are to present their findings next Wednesday at the Radio logical Society of North America annual meeting in Chicago. Research presented at meetings is typically considered preliminary until published in a peer-reviewed journal.
Bruno and his team will present their findings at their annual meeting in Chicago next Wednesday at the Radio Logical Society of North America. Usually, work discussed at meetings is considered preliminary before it is published in a peer reviewed journal.
Experts in the diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson's disease suggest they are on the verge of developing new ways of identlfying the condition earlier - and better managing its debilitating symptoms. In a presentation Tuesday at the XXIV World Congress of Neurology in Dubai, researchers from the Center for Neurodegenerative Science at Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich, told more than 4,000 neurologists from around the world in attendance that recent studies suggest that other health conditions -- like rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder, constipation, depression, hyposmia, anxiety and excessive daytime sleepiness may be predictors of the onset of the movement disorder.
Experts in Parkinson's disease diagnosis and care say they are on the verge of finding new approaches to earlier identlfy the disorder-and better control the crippling symptoms. At the XXIV World Neurology Congress in Dubai on Tuesday, researchers from the Center for Neurodegenerative Science at the Van Andel Institute in Grand Rapids, Mich, told more than 4,00 Neurologists from around the world attending recent research indicate that other health disorders — such as rapid eye movement sleep behavioral disorder, constipation, depression, hyposmia, anxiety and prolonged daytime sleepiness — may be predictors of the onset of motion disorder.
The Mayo Clinic describes rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep behavior disorder as a sleep disorder in which you physically act out vivid, often unpleasant dreams with vocal sounds and sudden, often violent arm and leg movements.
The Mayo Clinic defines rapid eye movement, or REM, sleep behavior disorder as a sleep disorder in which you physically experience vivid, sometimes disturbing dreams with vocal noises and unexpected, sometimes aggressive movements of the arm and the legs.
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