Essential tremor and Parkinsonian tremor can be debilitating conditions, making even the simplest daily activities challenging. For many patients, drug therapy isn’t effective enough, and traditional surgical options can be too invasive. In recent years, however, a new frontier in medicine has opened up: MRgFUS, or Magnetic Resonance-guided Focused Ultrasound.
This cutting-edge technique promises to significantly improve the quality of life for those living with tremors.
What is MRgFUS and how does it work?
MRgFUS is a minimally invasive treatment that doesn’t require surgical incisions or general anesthesia. Instead, it relies on a combination of advanced technologies.
This innovative technique combines the use of focused ultrasound guided by Magnetic Resonance (MR). The ultrasound beams are precisely focused, with millimeter accuracy, on a specific target inside the brain. The Magnetic Resonance imaging is used both to visualize the brain and to guide the ultrasound in real-time, monitoring its action and ensuring it hits the exact desired area.
The target is the Ventral Intermediate Nucleus of the thalamus (VIM), a small region in the brain responsible for certain types of tremors. The focused ultrasound induces a minimal and controlled temperature increase in this area, creating a tiny lesion that deactivates the abnormal activity causing the tremor. The result leads to an average tremor improvement of 60% in the treated side.
The innovation behind the Treatment
MRgFUS stands as a milestone in the approach to tremor, revolutionizing the concept of neurological intervention thanks to its non-invasive nature and real-time Magnetic Resonance guidance. The ability to operate without incisions, keeping the patient conscious and constantly monitoring treatment effectiveness, is an extraordinary advancement. With an average tremor reduction of 60% and no documented recurrence so far, MRgFUS offers tangible hope. Side effects are generally transient, and risks are minimal thanks to the preliminary investigations patients undergo.
MRgFUS is not just an effective therapy, but a tangible testament to how technology can create cutting-edge solutions to concretely improve patients’ well-being and autonomy.
