A new ultrasound “helmet” could offer a non-invasive alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treating Parkinson’s disease, with potential applications for Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer’s, depression, and chronic pain.
The device targets brain regions up to 1,000 times smaller than conventional ultrasound, delivering mechanical pulses without the need for electrodes implanted deep in the brain. A study in Nature Communications reports that the helmet can focus on regions 30 times smaller than previous deep-brain ultrasound systems.
Seven volunteers tested the system, which directed ultrasound waves to a tiny area of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), a key visual pathway. Modulating this region produced lasting changes in the visual cortex, suggesting similar targeting of motor regions could reduce Parkinson’s tremors.
Developed over a decade by Oxford University and University College London teams, the helmet features 256 sources and is worn inside an MRI scanner. Researchers hope future AI integration could allow at-home use.
“The long-term goal is to refine the system into a practical clinical tool, potentially replacing invasive brain implants,” said the team. Experts call the work a neuroscience milestone with broad implications for neurological treatment.
