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@tedalmon

Elaine, If you research HIFU or simply "focused ultrasound" at all you will probably be contacted by Insightec, the company that makes the equipment and markets it quite aggressively. HIFU and DBS are fundamentally different in that HIFU is non invasive (does require shaving your head) but actually ablates (kills) brain cells thought to be responsible for the symptoms. While side effects so far have been rare, they are not reversible if say, your speech in unintentionally impaired. Also they have only in the past week or so received FDA clearance to treat both sides of the brain, and there is a one year wait in between, before that second head shave. I think the technology has promise, but hasn't nearly the experience of DBS which has been done for decades. I am quite fascinated by the "Parkinson's glove" I read about in another forum which is now in clinical trials. Completely non-invasive and at least in some cases, amazingly effective so far. Good Luck.

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Replies to "Elaine, If you research HIFU or simply "focused ultrasound" at all you will probably be contacted..."

Ted, yes I have spoken to Insightec and have researched DBS and spoken to 2 gentlemen in my Rock Steady Boxing group who have undergone DBS. Both have so far had great success. It is not something I am at all considering. I did find a center where they have done several of the HIFU treatments. I agree that the HIFU has promise, but until there is sufficient evidence that doing both sides of the brain is doable without serious side effects I am electing to try other treatments. I am excited about the Parkinson's glove and hope it is as effective as they claim. Thanks for your reply and insights. Elaine