December 26, 2025

@michaelokun

Non-invasive brain stimulation is stepping up to be part of the future of neurology. Non-invasive brain stimulation refers to techniques that gently change brain activity from outside the head without surgery. Rektorová and colleagues describe in a new paper in Nature Reviews Neurology how non-invasive brain stimulation is being used today, and where it may be headed. Key Points: - Techniques like rTMS and tES can influence brain networks involved in movement, thinking and recovery. - Results across conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, stroke and traumatic brain injury are promising, however inconsistent. - Future advances point toward personalized, network guided and closed loop stimulation approaches. My take: This review captures where we are and where we need to go. Non-invasive stimulation is not magic; however it may become far more powerful when we match the right target to the right brain and at the right time. Also, if we can reach deeper into the brain w/ the innovation of newer tools this could be a game-changer. Here are 5 points that resonated w/ me: 1- These tools aim to nudge brain networks, rather than replace damaged circuits. 2- Benefits so far are real for some folks, however results vary widely between individuals. 3- Personalizing stimulation based on brain networks may unlock stronger and more reliable effects. 4- New approaches may reach deeper brain areas without surgery, which is exciting for conditions like Parkinson’s and depression. 5- The future likely blends stimulation w/ biomarkers, imaging and timing and these changes will hopefully better support recovery and function. https://www.nature.com/articles/s41582-025-01137-z #parkinson #TMS #transcranialmagneticstimulation #brainstimulation #michaelokun #depression #fixelinstitute