Mapping Functional Networks of Brain Activity Using EEG in Patients With Essential Tremor or Parkinson Disease Before and After MR-guided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Tremor

Overview

A cornerstone in PD and ET research is the investigation of neurophysiological changes as potential bio-markers that could help in tracking disease progression and response to therapy. Electroencephalography (EEG) could provide a non-invasive and relatively inexpensive tool for identification of such bio-markers. In this study the investigators will use high-density electroencephalographic (EEG) recordings, in order to develop a platform of sensitive and reliable bio-markers for disease progression and response to MR-guided Focused ultrasound thalamotomy (FUS-T) intervention for tremor.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease the neurochemical hallmark of which is dopamine deficiency in nigrostriatal pathways, and characterized clinically by a movement disorder consisting of rest tremor, bradykinesia, rigidity, impairment of postural reflexes and gait difficulties. The disease may leads to severe neurological dysfunction within several years. Essential tremor (ET) is a neurological disorder characterized by the presence of action tremor in different body parts mainly in the hands, head, larynx (voice box), tongue, and chin. The lower body is rarely affected. INSIGHTEC uses MR guided Focused Ultrasound to perform a "non-invasive" thalamotomy to relieve medication refractory tremor in patients with ET or tremor-dominant PD. The effect of MRgFUS is based on tissue destruction targeted to the Vim nucleus of the thalamus which enables a highly accurate and controlled thermal effect. Ultrasound energy is delivered across the skull, without an incision or craniotomy, heating the targeted tissue above the protein denaturation threshold at temperatures near 60°C. Prior to the delivery of high temperatures, destructive sonication delivery of lower energy focused ultrasound allows for proper anatomic localization, as well as physiologic evaluation of symptom relief and/or any unwanted side effects. This process allows for adjustments before making a permanent lesion. Treatment effects are immediate and the several hour treatment is generally well tolerated with mild sedatives. The FUS-T procedure was shown as an efficacious procedure for tremor in both ET patients and PD patients; Elminda developed an algorithm of Brain network activation (BNA) Mapping Functional Networks of Brain Activity Using EEG. Studying brain morphology and function with Neuroimaging and electrophysiological measures is critical for our understanding of the pathology and pathophysiology of PD and ET. The BNA network can shed a lite on the brain connectivity changes that occur as a result treatment in neurological patients, in this case patients with either PD or ET tremor going through FUS-T. BNA can help understanding the effects of FUS-T on the brain physiology and perhaps to identify biomarkers that may serve as tools for chosing the best candidates for this treatemnt and optimal treatment parameters.