A new ultrasound “helmet” could transform the treatment of neurological conditions by offering a non-invasive alternative to deep brain stimulation, according to a study in Nature Communications. The device can precisely target brain regions up to 1,000 times smaller than standard ultrasound, potentially replacing the surgical implantation of electrodes currently used for Parkinson’s patients.
Researchers from Oxford University and UCL tested the system on seven volunteers, directing ultrasound waves to the lateral geniculate nucleus. The pulses reached the tiny target with unprecedented accuracy and produced lasting effects in connected brain regions. Experts say similar targeting in motor control areas could one day ease tremors in Parkinson’s disease.
The helmet, fitted with 256 ultrasound sources and integrated into an MRI scanner, took more than a decade to develop. Scientists believe it could eventually be adapted for use in conditions such as depression, Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer’s and chronic pain. With further refinement and the help of AI, the technology may even be made portable for use outside hospitals.
