What the trial was testing
The trial enrolled 27 patients with parkinson's disease. The study was sponsored by InSightec and tracked outcomes across the full group of patients who matched the trial's eligibility profile.
Researchers followed patients through treatment and into recovery, tracking the outcomes that mattered most for the disease being studied.
What the results showed
Focused ultrasound reduced medication-resistant Parkinson's tremors by 62%.
JAMA neurology · 2017 · NCT01772693
These findings — that hand tremors improved by nearly two-thirds in patients who got the real ultrasound treatment — were published in the JAMA neurology and represent the headline result of the study.
Researchers tracked outcomes across 27 patients enrolled in the trial. The result was consistent enough across the group that the team felt confident reporting it.
What this means for patients
For patients with parkinson's disease, this result changes the calculus on what to ask their care team about. Whether it changes day-to-day care depends on factors like disease subtype, prior treatments, and where the patient is in their care journey.
What you can do now
This treatment uses MRI-guided ultrasound to target a specific brain area without surgery. It is FDA-approved for essential tremor and Parkinson's tremor. If your tremors aren't controlled by medication, ask your neurologist whether you're a candidate for this procedure.
Eligibility for the treatments mentioned above depends on specific test results and clinical history. Bring this summary, the trial name, and your most recent labs or pathology report to your next visit.
Open parkinson's disease trials
Action Observation and Motor Imagery Therapy in Parkinson's Disease
In recent years, motor imagery (MI) and action observation (AO) therapy strategies have been used in rehabilitation programs to increase motor learning in Parkinson's disease (PD). Visuomotor training strategies such as AO and MI therapy rely on the activity of the mirror neuron system to facilitate motor re-learning. Mirror neurons are activated during the performance of goal-directed actions, also when observing the same action and visualizing the action in the mind. The aim of this clinical trial is to test whether the application of AO and MI treatment in PD in addition to conventional rehabilitation programs has an additional effect on Balance, Functional Status and Quality of Life.
A Digital Therapeutic Platform for Swallowing and Drooling Problems in Parkinson's
The purpose of this study is the development and early-stage validation of a wearable sensor for dysphagia in patients with PD.