A new ultrasound “helmet” may provide a non-invasive alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological conditions, a study shows. The device can target brain regions 1,000 times smaller than conventional ultrasound, with potential applications in depression, Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, and addiction.
Unlike DBS, which implants electrodes deep in the brain, the helmet delivers mechanical pulses while worn inside an MRI scanner. Researchers tested it on seven volunteers, accurately directing waves to a tiny area the size of a grain of rice in the lateral geniculate nucleus, a key visual pathway. Modulating this region produced lasting effects in the visual cortex, suggesting similar results could be achieved in motor regions for Parkinson’s patients.
Developed over a decade by Oxford University and University College London teams, the helmet incorporates 256 ultrasound sources and has been designed with patient comfort in mind. Future versions may integrate AI, enabling use at home without MRI guidance. The researchers aim to refine it into a practical clinical tool that could complement or replace invasive brain implants.
