14 Fox Focus | Research
Research News
By Jen Fisher Wilson
Ultrasound Procedure Manages Motor Symptoms on Both Sides of the Body
People with motor symptoms not controlled by medications alone now have a new treatment option: bilateral focused ultrasound( FUS). The FDA recently approved FUS for use on both sides of the brain( in two procedures, months apart) to treat tremor, slowness, stiffness and involuntary movement symptoms on both sides of the body. Previously, FUS was limited to one side of the brain, only managing symptoms on one side of the body.
FUS doesn’ t cure Parkinson’ s— or slow or stop its progression— but it may ease symptoms for people who experience ongoing challenges despite medication and other treatments. The incisionless surgical procedure works by disrupting faulty communication pathways in the brain. Benefits are immediate and the procedure is irreversible.
New Medications Expand“ Off” Time Treatment Options
Dopamine therapies have long been the first-line treatment option to manage PD motor symptoms( think tremor, slowness and stiffness). Researchers continue exploring ways to optimize these drugs, ensuring they work for as long as possible as Parkinson’ s progresses.
In the past year, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration( FDA) has approved three dopamine-directed therapies: two under-the-skin infusion therapies( Onapgo and Vyalev) providing continuous medication delivery and one long-acting oral drug( Crexont) to alleviate symptoms with fewer doses. These treatments reduce motor fluctuations and“ off” time— when Parkinson’ s symptoms return or worsen between medication doses— offering important treatment options for progressing PD.
In September, the FDA received a New Drug Application for tavapadon, a partial dopamine agonist for treatment of PD motor symptoms. The therapy received early-stage support from MJFF.