“The effect of Neuro-HIFU is immediate and the tremors disappear forever”

Compilation
He Dr. Andres LozanoThe Canadian neurosurgeon, professor at the University of Toronto and director of the Department of Neurobiology at Askires, most cited in the world for his scientific work, was present this Monday to give a keynote lecture organized by the Foundation Illustrious Official College of Physicians of Valencia (Icomv)WITH Askires. The topic of his talk was the present and future of functional neurosurgery techniques such as Neuro-HIFU and deep brain stimulation.

In this context, he analyzed the achievements that these avant-garde methods represent in the face of pathologies such as epilepsy or psychiatric and movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

“Neuro-HIFU is a technique used to create therapeutic brain lesions; we use a helmet that has 1000 ultrasound sources which are launched through the skull and focus on a specific point in the brain measuring one millimeter; “This energy can damage abnormal neurons.”reported a Canadian neurosurgeon. “It is non-invasive; The shots last about 15 seconds., and the patient does not feel anything, so this method is very well tolerated; In Valencia it was used on up to four patients a day.”he pointed.

“Treatment for essential tremor is very advanced and involves applying ultrasound specifically to the thalamus. and coagulate about 40,000 neurons. We know where these neurons are located that cause tremors. The effect of the technique is immediate, and the tremor disappears forever.”

– Dr. Lozano emphasized.

Dr. Andres Lozano: “It is a non-invasive method; The injections last about 15 seconds and the patient does not feel anything, so this method is very well tolerated; In Valencia it was used on up to four patients a day.”

The Neuro-HIFU technique is also used in patients with Parkinson’s disease. “a more complex disease because it manifests not only tremors, but also stiffness and problems walking”among other conditions. “The future of these treatments lies in mental illness, much more common than Parkinson’s disease and essential tremor; “Because it is a non-invasive therapy with little risk, it represents an excellent opportunity to help these patients who continue to get sick despite their medications and cognitive or electroconvulsive therapy.”

– he noted.

The current challenge, according to Dr. Lozano, is: apply these methods of functional neurosurgery to other pathologies such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, schizophrenia or obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). “All neural circuits are accessible and modifiable”– the specialist concluded.