Ultrasound offers precision in brain therapy, reaching difficult areas and enhancing recovery potential.
Ultrasound, traditionally used for imaging, is now emerging as a promising therapeutic tool with the potential to revolutionize brain health, as outlined in a recent study. () For decades, health professionals across the world have used ultrasound as a means of monitoring the development of unborn babies and assessing the health of patients’ internal organs.
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Method for Accurate Brain Targeting
But writing in the journal PLOS Biology, researchers from Stanford University, the University of Plymouth, and Attune Neurosciences say it has now been demonstrated to offer a non-invasive and precise way of targeting specific areas of the human brain.This is enabling them to investigate how a technique known as transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) can help people with conditions ranging from pain, alcoholism, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and Parkinson’s disease, all without the use of drugs or surgery.
Beyond the treatment, the researchers discuss in the new article how the technology can also be used to temporarily test areas before treating them, serving as a sort of “search and rescue tool for the brain”.
This enables them to find the sources of brain-related issues and disorders prior to treating them, which may be on the critical path towards personalized treatments.
However, they acknowledge there are still a number of complex challenges that need to be addressed before TUS can be rolled out in healthcare settings – and maybe even homes – on a global scale.
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And while significant advances have been made to the technology, reaching a point where it can still be effective – but also sustainable from a cost perspective – is still some years away.
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The article was written by Dr. Keith Murphy, co-founder of Attune Neurosciences and researcher at Stanford University School of Medicine, and Professor Elsa Fouragnan, who leads the Brain Stimulation Lab in the University of Plymouth’s Brain Research and Imaging Centre.
Dr. Murphy said: “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 and we’ve made great strides in demonstrating that it works.”
Professor Fouragnan added: “Over many years, we have improved our understanding of how the brain works and the failings within it that lead to neurological and mental health conditions. However, while advances have been made in treatments, they have not happened at a similar pace. We believe TUS can fill that gap and through our research to this point, we have discovered how it can be a genuine search and rescue tool for the brain. Clinicians and patients are excited about its potential, and if the current pace of development continues, we could have a risk-free technology that can positively impact millions, if not billions, of people.”
Reference:
- The adsorption of drugs on nanoplastics has severe biological impact - (https://journals.plos.org/plosbiology/article?id=10.1371/journal.pbio.3002884)