Focused ultrasound therapy is offering a new path for treating Parkinson's disease and essential tremor without traditional brain surgery. At the 8th European Symposium on Focused Ultrasound Therapy held in Vienna in April 2026, approximately 110 scientists, engineers, neurologists, and psychiatrists gathered to discuss how this technology is transforming treatment for movement disorders and other brain conditions.

What Is Focused Ultrasound and How Does It Work for Movement Disorders?

Focused ultrasound therapy uses sound waves to precisely target and treat specific areas of the brain without making surgical incisions. For movement disorders like Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, the technology can create lesions in key brain regions that control movement, reducing tremors and improving motor function. Unlike traditional deep brain stimulation (DBS), which requires implanting electrodes, focused ultrasound is completely noninvasive, meaning patients avoid the risks associated with surgery and implanted devices.

The symposium featured presentations on several clinical applications of this emerging technology. Researchers from Moscow presented cases of MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy, a procedure that targets the thalamus, a brain region involved in movement control. One particularly notable case involved simultaneous bilateral treatment, meaning both sides of the thalamus were treated in a single procedure for Parkinson's disease. Another presentation detailed how the same approach could treat levodopa-induced dyskinesias, involuntary movements that develop as a side effect of long-term Parkinson's medication.

How Are Doctors Implementing This Technology in European Hospitals?

One of the symposium's key sessions focused on the practical challenges of establishing focused ultrasound programs in academic medical centers. Experts from Vienna and Zurich shared their experiences launching these programs, addressing questions about how to integrate the technology into routine clinical practice. The discussion highlighted that successful implementation requires collaboration across multiple specialties, including neurology, radiology, and neurosurgery.

The symposium revealed that European medical centers are already collecting substantial data on patient outcomes. This information is critical for understanding which patients benefit most from focused ultrasound and how to refine the technique over time. Experts emphasized that building on established partnerships between hospitals and universities across Europe will accelerate the adoption of this technology and improve treatment protocols.

Key Areas of Focused Ultrasound Research Presented at the Symposium

• Movement Disorder Treatment: Presentations covered MR-guided focused ultrasound for essential tremor and Parkinson's disease, including cases of bilateral thalamotomy and treatment of medication-induced involuntary movements.
• Psychiatric Applications: Researchers discussed how focused ultrasound neuromodulation could address psychiatric conditions, expanding the technology's potential beyond movement disorders.
• Brain Tumor Treatment: Sessions explored sonodynamic therapy for glioblastoma and blood-brain barrier opening techniques that could improve drug delivery to brain tumors.
• Safety and Regulatory Standards: Experts presented data on the safety profile of different ultrasound technologies and discussed regulatory pathways for bringing these treatments to patients.
• Cellular and Imaging Mechanisms: Researchers shared insights into how ultrasound affects brain cells at the molecular level and how imaging can guide and monitor treatment.

One significant finding presented at the symposium involved how patients' attitudes toward risk influence their decision to undergo focused ultrasound treatment. Research from Stanford showed that patients undergoing MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy for essential tremor displayed variable risk attitudes, suggesting that patient psychology and expectations play a role in treatment outcomes.

Another important area of research focused on understanding what happens in the brain after focused ultrasound treatment. Studies from Milan examined changes in myelin content, the insulation around nerve fibers, within the treated brain region following MR-guided focused ultrasound thalamotomy in essential tremor patients. Researchers also investigated how the brain reorganizes its neurotransmitter systems, the chemical messengers that control movement and mood, after treatment.

Why This Matters for Patients With Movement Disorders

For people living with Parkinson's disease and essential tremor, focused ultrasound represents a significant advance. Traditional treatments rely on medications like levodopa, which can lose effectiveness over time and cause side effects. Deep brain stimulation surgery, while effective, carries surgical risks and requires ongoing device maintenance. Focused ultrasound offers a middle ground: it's noninvasive, doesn't require implants, and can be performed in a single outpatient procedure. The technology is particularly promising for patients who don't respond well to medication or who want to avoid surgery.

The symposium also highlighted that focused ultrasound research is rapidly advancing in Europe. The Focused Ultrasound Foundation, which supports research and development of the technology, emphasized that the European scientific community is evolving quickly and that there are significant opportunities for international collaboration. This momentum suggests that focused ultrasound treatments may become more widely available to patients in the coming years.

"It was encouraging to see how rapidly the focused ultrasound community in Europe is evolving," said Pascale Broks, executive director for Europe at the Focused Ultrasound Foundation. "Our presentation about the Foundation's substantive role within the focused ultrasound landscape and how we aim to support and strengthen the European research and scientific community was very well received and led to valuable discussions about future collaboration opportunities."

Pascale Broks, Executive Director for Europe, Focused Ultrasound Foundation

The symposium also underscored the importance of data collection and standardization. As more hospitals adopt focused ultrasound, consistent measurement of outcomes and safety will help doctors refine the technique and identify which patients are most likely to benefit. This collaborative approach reflects a broader shift in neurology toward precision medicine, where treatments are tailored to individual patient characteristics.