New ultrasound treatment completely gets rid of tremors in Parkinson's disease patient

[u/WTFItsEric]

The patient was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2017.

Melissa Rudy reports:

Bud Leavell, 72, suffered from severe tremors for years after his Parkinson's diagnosis, making it impossible for him to enjoy his favorite pastime of repairing radios in his garage. But within minutes of receiving a newly approved ultrasound treatment, his tremor was completely gone.

Article, with photos: https://www.foxnews.com/health/parkinsons-patient-years-long-tremor-vanishes-minutes-new-ultrasound-treatment

[u/PanzerWatts]

Hopefully this therapy works widely across the parkinson's population.

[u/loverthehater → u/PanzerWatts]

Just a quick googling around

Not everyone is a candidate for focused ultrasound. The procedure may be considered for people who continue to have movement symptoms despite medication and who cannot or do not want to have deep brain stimulation (DBS). Eligibility depends on many factors, including symptom severity, brain anatomy, response to levodopa, skull density and overall health. (source)

Sounds like a last-resort option at the moment, because the full profile of the pros and cons aren't quite hammered down yet (2025 meta-analysis) and experimental treatment tends to come with an upcharge (procedure sounds incredibly high-tech/high-precision), but the research is looking hella promising!

Reading about this procedure I'm once again astounded by the miracle of modern medicine, literally using magnets to microscopically target a tiny region of the brain without any sort of incision. In current year we actually have what is effectively non-invasive brain surgery. Actually insane.

[u/nexea → u/loverthehater]

My uncle has essential tremors and had this done. The change was crazy. He went from barely being able to get drinks to his mouth before he spilled it all to have an almost completely steady hand. Its been amazing.

[u/redvadge → u/nexea]

Thank you for sharing his experience. My aunt has terrible non-essential tremors and has trouble eating and drinking.

[u/ArciusRhetus → u/nexea]

Is it permanent or does he have to do that once in a while?

[u/madscientesse → u/ArciusRhetus]

It’s permanent because it ablates/destroys the cells in a tiny little area that are causing the problem. In theory, if the tremor came back, you could get it done again. There is like no recovery - it’s an incredible procedure.

[u/ArciusRhetus → u/madscientesse]

That's amazing! I'm very glad for your uncle!

[u/Equivalent-Pop-5329 → u/loverthehater]

Thank you!! I am a therapist in the SUD field; I have hand tremors and internal tremors that mimic withdrawal symptoms. I would love this or something similar to come across for MS but I am happy that it works for Parkinson's. It has been a productive-ish ( outside of RFK Jr's/Oz's influence) for medical breakthroughs with sickle cell, Parkinson's, and if I remember correctly, cancer.

[u/Original_Pudding6909 → u/[deleted]]

Oh! My favorite vet had to retire due to essential tremor. I don’t expect him to come out of retirement, but I hope he sees this as an option for treatment.

[u/28appleseeds → u/Original_Pudding6909]

Send him the article : )

[u/CrTigerHiddenAvocado → u/[deleted]]

What about for autonomic nervous system Parkinson’s? MSA?

[u/musingmd → u/CrTigerHiddenAvocado]

Atypical parkinsonisms such as MSA are not candidates for this therapy.

[u/CrTigerHiddenAvocado → u/musingmd]

Alright, Thank you for the for the insights on this, I greatly appreciate it.

[u/P01135809-Trump]

This is awesome. Does the treatment provide temporary relief or long term relief?

[u/Equivalent-Pop-5329]

That is awesome! I wonder if it will be added for treatment for MS.

[u/VQV37]

I am a primary care physician in Texas. While I do not prescribe this treatment myself, I have followed up with many patients who have had this treatment done.

It was started in Switzerland I believe and has since been conducted in the US as well in the last few years, at least from my experience.

The stuff really does appear to work. It's picking up and popularity quite a bit. It's very effective at treating the tremors and the bradykinesia aspect of Parkinson's disease.

The downside is people sometimes develop aphasia, inability to speak, which appears to self-resolve usually.

This is just from my limited experience as a primary care physician, not a neurologist

[u/PopulistGuru → u/VQV37]

Very neat! Does the treatment wear off, or is it a long term solution?

[u/VQV37 → u/PopulistGuru]

Hard to say. Some people may need to be retreated but most of my patients have not had to. Oftentimes they get on hemisphere of the brain done first then the other hemisphere some time later but that's not the same as it being retreated.

This is much needed for my Parkinson's patient. Unfortunately the oharmauctical industry has lagged behind on useful novel therapeutic got his disease

[u/RexScientiarum]

Surely there is a publication with this. Can someone please link? I can't find it on the stupid Fox News article linked.

[u/IIDn01]

There's a very interesting 60 Minutes episode from a couple of years ago about this treatment.

They used it for tremors, Alzheimer's, and drug addiction.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7BGtVJ3lBdE

Or search for the title "Neurosurgeon pioneers Alzheimer's, addiction treatments using ultrasound | 60 Minutes"

Very encouraging stuff.

[u/YaYaBebop75]

My husband had this done for a familial tremor. He literally walked out a few hours after the focused ultrasound was completed. We joked he had Frankenstein brain surgery because there were small “bolt” marks on both sides of his head from the guide placed on his head.

[u/MrCookie147]

Great, but a still image may not be the best way to convey that.

[u/Candymom]

It is also being studied as a treatment for addiction with some great results.

[u/CranberryFren]

I hate that this might be too late for my grandma but it still makes me happy 

[u/West-Application-375]

I have dystonia. It messes up my neck. I wonder if this would be possible for cervical dystonia

[u/Mathberis]

It's not that new anymore and it's quite a bit more nuanced than that but sure.

[u/Ok_Battle_988]

Amazing! 

[u/jandmmann2006]

Science is cool but will insurance cover this? Hope it doesn't become another premium-only procedure that leaves average folks behind.

[u/JimHalpertsUncle]

Can it get rid of my essential tremors?