“Tuning the Brain’s Movement Circuits Without Surgery” by Dr Brad Treeby and Dr Tabish Saifee

Could sound waves offer a new way to influence brain activity without surgery?

In this session, Dr. Brad Treeby, CEO, and Dr. Tabish Saifee, Medical Director of Neuroharmonics, explore the emerging potential of low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) as a new approach to neuromodulation.

Unlike high-intensity focused ultrasound, which uses heat to destroy targeted brain tissue, this technology aims to influence the electrical activity of specific brain circuits without damaging them. The approach is designed to be non-ablative, reversible and repeatable, potentially offering a new treatment option for people with movement disorders.

We explore why the initial clinical focus is on essential tremor, how ultrasound can reach precise structures deep inside the brain, and how MRI imaging and individual brain anatomy help personalise treatment. Brad and Tabish also explain the current state of research, the importance of demonstrating safety and effectiveness through clinical trials, and the challenges that remain before this technology can become an established treatment.

A particularly important part of our discussion concerns the potential application to Parkinson’s disease. We look at what early human studies are telling us about influencing brain circuits associated with movement, including bradykinesia, and consider whether this approach might eventually help address some of the motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s.

We also discuss the prospects for larger clinical trials, treatment duration, the possibility of repeated sessions, accessibility through outpatient clinics, and how artificial intelligence might eventually help optimise treatment for each individual.

While the potential is exciting, the speakers emphasise that research is still at an early stage. More clinical evidence will be needed before we know whether this approach can become a safe and effective treatment for Parkinson’s.