A new ultrasound “helmet” could provide a non-invasive alternative to deep brain stimulation (DBS) for Parkinson’s disease and potentially help with conditions such as depression, Tourette syndrome, Alzheimer’s, chronic pain, and addiction.
The helmet, developed by Oxford University and University College London, can target brain regions 1,000 times smaller than conventional ultrasound. It uses mechanical pulses rather than implanted electrodes, offering a safer, non-surgical approach.
In trials with seven volunteers, the device directed ultrasound waves to a region the size of a grain of rice in the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN), producing lasting effects in connected brain areas. Researchers say targeting motor control regions could reduce Parkinson’s tremors.
The project, over a decade in the making, integrates the helmet with MRI guidance and could eventually use AI to allow home use. The team aims to refine it into a practical clinical tool that could complement or replace invasive brain implants.
