(Vienna, 28 March 2023) Ultrasound brain therapies have gained in importance worldwide in recent years and are viewed as a promising form of therapy for various neurological and psychiatric disorders. The Medical University of Vienna, together with the University of Toronto, plays a leading role in the development and research of areas of application for these new therapies. The increasing global spread and the scientific status of these innovative methods have now been described by the developers of these forms of therapy in a review article in the renowned specialist magazine “Advanced Science”.
There are currently two different ultrasound brain therapies: surgery (developed in Toronto) and brain stimulation (developed in Vienna). Transcranial pulse stimulation (TPS), developed under the leadership of MedUni Vienna, has spread particularly quickly (first described in 2019). The procedure has a broad potential field of application and can be used as an additional therapy for diseases for which effective therapies are difficult or even lacking. However, all current treatments can be continued and TPS shows the potential as an additional therapeutic opportunity.
The method, developed under the direction of clinical neuroscientist Roland Beisteiner from MedUni Vienna’s Department of Neurology, relies on precision and deep stimulation in contrast to the classic brain stimulation methods that work with magnetic fields and electric fields. “Ultrasound brain stimulation is a very complex therapy that requires a high level of brain function expertise,” explains Roland Beisteiner. “When performed by professionals, it results in an improvement in clinical performance scales and a subjective rating of ‘very helpful new therapy’ in the vast majority of patients.
However, the team of authors also states in their review that although patient data is increasing, it is still limited. So far there have been a total of 16 published clinical studies on ultrasound neuromodulation. Although it is not a causal therapy against neurodegenerative diseases, improvements in various brain diseases such as Alzheimer’s dementia, Parkinson’s, stroke, depression and craniocerebral trauma have already been published. However, with the subjectively experienced improvements in the clinical data, there were not yet enough sham-controlled studies to read the exact difference to pure placebo effects.
“Documentation of clinical effects depends on clinical assessments and rating scales, which often lack sensitivity to small differences and exhibit significant dependency on the raters,” Beisteiner explains include measurements (MRI, electrophysiology). The extensive variables offer many research opportunities, but also many dependencies and difficulties in interpreting the effect.”
Ultrasound brain stimulation activates brain cells non-invasively from the outside
“Although we are still relatively early in our research, it is already evident that TPS is a safe method and can support and stimulate the brain’s rehabilitation mechanisms,” explains Beisteiner. Overall, ultrasonic brain stimulation has established itself as an international success story with great potential to play an important role in the treatment of neurological and psychiatric diseases in the future. Further research into the mode of action and possible uses is ongoing. “Fascinating prospects for future applications result from brain state-based stimulation, or ‘closed loop stimulation’,” explains Beisteiner, “here brain activity is measured at the same time and disturbed brain functions are specifically treated through stimulation.”
Publikation: Advanced Science
Ultrasound Neuromodulation as a new Brain Therapy
Roland Beisteiner, Mark Hallett, Andres M. Lozano
DOI: 10.1002/advs.202205634