BETTER TREATMENT PIPELINES
THE MICHAEL J. FOX FOUNDATION 2025 YEAR IN REVIEW
Surgical Advances Provide Better Symptom Control Updates in DBS and Focused Ultrasound
The U. S. Food and Drug Administration( FDA) approved multiple new advances in surgical techniques for treating Parkinson’ s in 2025, including new approaches to deep brain stimulation( DBS) and focused ultrasound( FUS).
In February, the FDA approved the first adaptive, or self-adjusting, DBS system for Parkinson’ s. Compared to“ continuous” DBS, which provides steady, 24 / 7 brain stimulation, adaptive DBS senses a person’ s unique brain signals and rhythm and automatically adjusts stimulation to respond to fluctuations causing Parkinson’ s symptoms.
Those adjustments have traditionally been made by doctors in follow-up appointments. This newer, adaptive approach potentially provides more even control of symptoms with fewer healthcare visits. The new advance adds to a continued push by device makers to make DBS more accessible and potentially beneficial.
In July, the FDA also approved bilateral FUS, a surgical approach to the management of PD-related motor symptoms that is carried out using soundwaves and does not require any incisions.
This approval is an advance of an already FDAapproved FUS technique, which uses soundwaves to create heat and destroy a small area of brain tissue involved in PD. Before this approval, FUS could only be performed on one side of the brain, improving symptoms on only one side of the body. Bilateral FUS consists of two procedures, targeting opposite sides of the brain, spaced at least six months apart. Bilateral FUS
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