Summary: Researchers report that ultrasound, once mainly for imaging, is evolving into a targeted brain therapy that may treat neurological conditions without drugs or surgery, with efforts underway to make it portable for home use.

Key Takeaways

  • Ultrasound is emerging as a targeted brain therapy: Transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) offers a non-invasive treatment for conditions like pain, alcoholism, OCD, and Parkinson’s disease, without the need for drugs or surgery.
  • TUS serves as a diagnostic tool: It acts as a “search and rescue tool” for identifying the sources of neurological issues, supporting personalized treatment approaches.
  • Portability is essential for accessibility: Researchers are working towards a portable, MRI-guided TUS device that can be used safely at home, addressing barriers to clinical access.

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Ultrasound, once primarily for imaging, is now emerging as a targeted brain therapy with potential life-changing applications, say researchers from Stanford University, the U.K.-based University of Plymouth, and Attune Neurosciences in a new PLOS Biology article.

Through transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS), ultrasound can now “help people with conditions ranging from pain, alcoholism, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and Parkinson’s disease, all without the use of drugs or surgery.” This technology also acts as a “search and rescue tool for the brain,” allowing researchers to locate the sources of neurological issues before treatment, a step towards more personalized therapies.

However, the researchers acknowledge that “each of the 8.2 billion brains and skulls on the planet is different,” requiring further adaptation of TUS to benefit as many people as possible.

Portable Brain Therapy

Keith Murphy, PhD, co-founder of Attune Neurosciences and a researcher at Stanford University School of Medicine, highlights the need for a portable solution: “There are countless reasons people can’t get to a clinic, whether it’s financial strain or simply not having the time. In the past few years, we’ve made substantial progress towards a device that leverages MRI precision guidance but may still be used safely at home.”

“We’ve always believed that portability was a critical step towards making advanced brain therapies accessible to everyone,” Murphy adds.