BOSTON, Mass. (Ivanhoe Newswire) — Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that impacts a million people living in the United States today. While most people are over the age of 60 when they’re diagnosed, one in 10 people with Parkinson’s are diagnosed with it before they turn 50. And although there is no cure, there are ways to relieve the tremors, stiffness, depression, anxiety and memory problems caused by Parkinson’s. And now, a new treatment may offer new hope for people diagnosed with this disease.
“Parkinson’s hits you in so many different ways,” said Parkinson’s patient Steve Holland.
One of the most noticeable — the tremors — and they can be debilitating.
“I knew it stole your ability to walk, balance, speaking,” described Holland.
To control these tremors, doctors use deep brain stimulation that uses electrodes to deliver electrical pulses to the brain, however the electrodes can corrode, accumulate scar tissue, and need to be removed. But now, researchers at MIT have created a fiber that uses ultrasound to stimulate neurons in the brain.
“Imagine a hair tick device really thin, actually thinner than your hair fiber and which can be implanted in your deep brain,” explained MIT Professor Canan Dagdeviren, PhD.
ImPULS generates high-frequency sound waves to activate brain cells and help reconnect broken circuits and ultimately help control the tremors.
“Instead of using like hard electrodes inside the brain and apply voltage, we are simply vibrating through ultrasound waves,” said Prof. Dagdeviren.
Giving patients living with Parkinson’s more control of their bodies and their lives.
The technology could potentially be used for various medical treatments, including tumor treatments, memory restoration, and treatments for organs that are difficult to reach, such as the pancreas or areas under the eye. Additionally, the technology could help restore muscle function. But first more trials will need to be done. They hope to have this ready for patients in five years.
Contributors to this news report include: Marsha Lewis, Producer; Matt Goldschmidt, Videographer; Roque Correa, Editor.
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Source:
https://www.nm.org/healthbeat/healthy-tips/things-you-may-not-know-about-parkinsons-disease
FOR MORE INFORMATION, PLEASE CONTACT:
Abby Abazorius
Senior Media Relations Specialist at the MIT Institute Office of Communications
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