The pianist and conductor Daniel Barenboim, 82 years old, announced that he suffers from Parkinson's disease, having given up several commitments in recent years due to health problems. Barenboim stated that he wants to "maintain as many professional commitments as possible" and considers his "greatest responsibility" to continue with the West-Eastern Divan orchestra, a project to promote dialogue between Israel and the Arab world.
Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder that causes movement, mental, and sleep disturbances, pain, and other health issues, according to the World Health Organization. It is a neurodegenerative condition that affects the brain's ability to produce dopamine, a chemical that helps control movement.
Researchers at the HM CINAC Comprehensive Neuroscience Center, located at the HM Puerta del Sur University Hospital in Móstoles (Madrid), successfully performed bilateral subthalamotomies using high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), demonstrating that the procedure is effective and safe, capable of reversing the motor manifestations of Parkinson's disease.
The main finding of this study is the possibility of treating the motor signs of Parkinson's disease on both sides of the body using HIFU. Until now, this type of ultrasound procedure was only performed on one of the brain hemispheres, limiting the benefits of this technique to one side of the body.
José Obeso, director of HM CINAC and leader of the research, pointed out that bilateral treatment with HIFU would be feasible and effective in well-selected patients. The motor benefits for the patients were significant, while the adverse effects were mostly mild and transitory.
The subthalamotomy using HIFU consists of the progressive and controlled creation of a lesion in the subthalamic nucleus of the brain using high-intensity ultrasound. This innovative procedure avoids the need for a cranial incision and has an immediate clinical effect, reducing recovery times and hospital stays.
Although there is no cure for Parkinson's, medical treatments and certain medications can help reduce symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, and difficulties in speaking. Risk factors for the disease include age, heredity, sex, and exposure to toxins, such as herbicides and pesticides.
The results of this preliminary study open up new perspectives in the treatment of Parkinson's disease and demonstrate the viability of bilateral subthalamotomy with HIFU as an effective therapeutic option.