First dual-target high-intensity focused ultrasound procedure for people with advanced Parkinson's disease
A woman began walking with a more fluid gait, while another patient could suddenly eat using utensils. Both patients, in advanced stages of Parkinson's disease, experienced immediate relief from severe tremor on one side of their body.
Two patients with advanced Parkinson's disease experienced immediate relief from severe tremors after undergoing a groundbreaking high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) procedure. The procedure targeted two specific tracts in the brain - the dentatorubral thalamic tract (DRTT) and the pallidothalamic tract (PTT) - which play crucial roles in regulating tremor and movement.
The Advanced Therapies in Movement Disorders (ATMD) Program at CU Anschutz performed the first-ever dual-target HIFU procedures in the Rocky Mountain region.
Associate Professor of Neurology Drew Kern, MD, MS, and Associate Professor of Neurosurgery Daniel Kramer, MD, led the team that performed the treatments. They reported that the dual-target procedure achieved remarkable results, with one patient showing complete elimination of tremor and significant improvement in rigidity and slowness of movement. Another patient, who had dementia, experienced zero rigidity and very little slowness of movement, as well as better sleep for the first time in years.
While the immediate relief provided by the HIFU procedure is promising, further research is needed to determine the long-term durability, potential cognitive effects, and merits of a bilateral treatment approach. The Duke-led team has treated over 100 patients with the DRTT target, with sustained benefit for at least five years. The PTT target, which was also treated in these cases, could potentially offer relief for Parkinson's symptoms beyond tremor, such as rigidity and bradykinesia.
Both targets were treated in the same outpatient procedure, which took about 90 minutes. The patients experienced immediate benefits during the MRI procedure, indicating that the treatment is effective. The ATMD team will continue to monitor the patients' progress and evaluate the longer-term outcomes of the dual-target treatment.
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