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Using Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound to Modulate Deep Brain Areas for Tremor Control in Parkinson's Disease Patients.
Sponsor: University of British Columbia
Summary
Researchers have found that a treatment called Magnetic Resonance guided Focused Ultrasound (MRgFUS) can effectively reduce tremors in patients with essential tremor (ET) and Parkinson's disease (PD). They noticed that ET patients initially responded better to the treatment than PD patients, but by the end of the treatment, both groups showed similar improvement. The study also suggested that targeting a specific area of the brain called the Zona Incerta (ZI) may be more beneficial for PD patients. Based on these findings, the investigators plan to use low-intensity focused ultrasound to directly modulate the ZI area and investigate the mechanisms of reduced tremors in PD patients. The investigators will also compare the effectiveness of this approach with the current target, the ventral intermediate nucleus (Vim) of the thalamus. The investigators will use a simulation model to determine the best ultrasound parameters for this new approach and will also examine the impact of the treatment on the brain's network activity using functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging. Success of this project may lay the foundation for finding a more effective target for MRgFUS treatment of PD tremor.
Official title: Effectiveness of Targeting the Zona Incerta (ZI) for Tremor Control in Parkinson's Disease Patients
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
40 Years - 80 Years
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Enrollment
20
Start Date
2024-03-01
Completion Date
2025-08-01
Last Updated
2025-03-27
Healthy Volunteers
No
Conditions
Interventions
Low intensity focused ultrasound
Sonication with low intensity focused ultrasound in two deep brain structures (ZI and Vim).
Locations (1)
University of British Columbia, DMCBH
Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada