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Parkinson's Treatment Now Incision-Free with Ultrasound
12 Jul
Summary
- Incision-free ultrasound treatment is available for Parkinson's.
- MRgFUS is FDA-approved but scarce in India.
- Procedure offers significant quality of life improvements.
Experts at the recent NeuroNext Forum, organized by the Vattikutti Foundation, discussed the potential of an incision-free, ultrasound-based treatment for Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. This advanced therapy, known as Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS), is widely employed in countries like the U.S. but is notably scarce in India.
The MRgFUS procedure, approved by the FDA, is particularly beneficial for individuals with Parkinson's disease or Essential Tremor whose symptoms are not effectively managed by medication or who experience severe drug side effects. It is performed within an MRI suite and typically lasts between 90 minutes and two hours, avoiding surgical incisions, stitches, or skull drilling, making it ideal for older adults.
Doctors emphasized that the treatment can substantially enhance daily living activities by reducing tremors. MRgFUS is initially applied to one side of the brain to alleviate symptoms on the opposite side of the body, with potential treatment for the other side considered after six to nine months, depending on the patient's individual condition and disease severity.
