Focused Ultrasound Shows Promise for Parkinson’s Tremor and Mobility

Scientists at the University of Maryland are leading a new wave of Parkinson’s disease care by showing that focused ultrasound can lessen tremors and help people move more easily. The research team published their findings in a prestigious medical journal, reporting important improvements for patients facing tremor and mobility challenges. In this notable study, 94 individuals with Parkinson’s disease took part in a carefully designed trial that compared a noninvasive treatment approach with a sham procedure. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups: one received ultrasound therapy using a device known as Exablate Neuro without making any incisions, while the other group underwent a sham procedure that mimicked the experience without delivering the actual therapeutic energy. The study design aimed to determine the true benefit of the ultrasound treatment while accounting for any placebo effect, a standard practice in modern clinical research to ensure reliable results. Over the course of three months, the investigators tracked a range of motor and functional outcomes to measure how tremor, stiffness, balance, and coordination responded to the noninvasive intervention. The results were striking. About one third of participants in the control group experienced some improvement, but the group that received the focused ultrasound demonstrated markedly greater gains. In this experimental cohort, 70 percent showed meaningful symptom relief, a level of improvement that stood out when compared with the sham group. The researchers also found that many of these benefits persisted for at least a year after treatment, suggesting that the procedure can provide lasting help for daily activities, such as walking, reaching, and managing fine motor tasks. Parkinson’s disease manifests through tremors, rigidity, slowed movement, and impaired balance. People living with these symptoms often face challenges in routine tasks and require ongoing management through medication, therapy, or, in some cases, surgical options like deep brain stimulation. Deep brain stimulation involves implanting electrodes and wiring that deliver targeted electrical impulses to brain regions associated with movement. While DBS can offer substantial relief for some patients, it carries risks typical of brain surgery, including the potential for bleeding, infection, or hardware-related complications. The ultrasound approach used in this study stands out because it is noninvasive and performed while the patient remains awake and comfortable. There are no incisions, and the treatment is delivered through the skull with real-time imaging to guide energy delivery precisely to the affected brain area. This makes the procedure considerably different from traditional surgical options and may appeal to people who want to avoid surgery or prolonged recovery periods. The trial received support from Insightec, the company behind the Exablate Neuro device, which is dedicated to advancing noninvasive therapies for neurological conditions. The collaboration between academic researchers and industry partners underscores the growing role of physician-led trials in expanding treatment possibilities for Parkinson’s disease. As researchers continue to examine long-term outcomes and broader patient populations, many experts view focused ultrasound as a promising addition to the Parkinson’s treatment landscape. For clinicians, this modality offers a potential option to reduce tremor-related disability and improve daily functioning without incisions or anesthesia. For patients and families, the accessibility and noninvasive nature of ultrasound therapy may translate into clearer choices about how to manage symptoms, establish care plans, and maintain independence. Ongoing work will address which patients stand to gain the most, the durability of benefits across diverse demographics, and the integration of such technology into standard care pathways. In summary, the Maryland study contributes meaningful evidence that focused ultrasound can meaningfully reduce tremor and improve mobility for many individuals living with Parkinson’s disease, with benefits that may endure well beyond the initial treatment window. The findings add to a growing body of research supporting noninvasive brain therapies and highlight the importance of collaborative, patient-centered investigations in advancing movement disorder care.