Ultrasound helps treat tremor in older people

Shivering is a common syndrome in older people, with shaking hands increasing over time, like Parkinson's or multiple sclerosis. The disease is caused by genetic mutations and about 50% of cases are hereditary. The patient may be out of control and difficult to perform simple daily activities such as writing letters, drinking glasses or lacing shoes. Fatigue, anxiety, cold or heat all make symptoms worse.

>>>Video: Treatment of shaking hands with ultrasound

Propanolol and primidone are the two drugs used to treat this movement disorder, but they only work in more than 50% of patients, while deep brain stimulation - for electric current running through the brain - can help reduce vibrations but also bring many side effects. The good news is that recently, top Canadian neurosurgeons say that ultrasound treatment can cure many diseases, from brain tumors to Parkinson's.

Mr. Lightfoot treated with ultrasound

The team led by Dr. Michael Scwartz of the Western Center for Neuroscience Center in Toronto applied a new technique to 68-year-old Tony Lightfoot, who often shakes his hands every time he exercises muscles. Especially, patients do not need anesthesia and remain alert during the treatment process.

During a 5-hour treatment session, the patient was wearing a ring around his head, a cold liquid tube above to prevent the head from heating up. When Mr. Lightfoot was introduced to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the scientists correctly identified damaged brain tissue and treated them with ultrasound beams. With each ultrasound transmission, Mr. Lightfoot was asked to move his right hand and arm, until his tremor level subsided and disappeared. The initial results showed that his hands no longer shook."It's amazing. I never thought it would be this way," said Mr. Lightfoot, after having a drink in his hand.

Although acknowledging the need for more clinical trials, the results motivated Canadian scientists to believe that the technique of treating hand tremors without surgery would revolutionize directional medicine. to treat neurological diseases like Parkinson's and some other types of movement disorders.

Reference: Daily Mail