Non-Invasive Ultrasound Treats Addiction, Bypassing Brain Surgery
TL;DR. West Virginia University researchers successfully used focused ultrasound to treat severe methamphetamine addiction in a patient. - The procedure non-invasively targeted brain structures previously only accessible via deep brain stimulation with scalpels. - Ultrasound treatment delivers sound waves to the brain, requiring no skull incision and allowing same-day patient discharge. - This technology offers a promising alternative for severe addiction cases where traditional methods and surgery failed.
- A patient with severe methamphetamine addiction was successfully treated using non-invasive focused ultrasound.
- The procedure, developed by neurosurgeon Ali Rezai, targets brain regions without surgical incision.
- This method provides an alternative to deep brain stimulation for neurological disorders and addiction.
- Patients can receive the 20-minute ultrasound treatment and go home on the same day.