Chinese researchers have reached encouraging preliminary results regarding the use of focused ultrasound to stimulate specific brain areas in patients suffering from disorders of consciousness caused by severe brain injuries, in a non-invasive technique that may contribute to improving their condition and enhancing their rehabilitation prospects.
The technique, developed by researchers from the Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences in collaboration with Kunming Medical University, showed an improvement in consciousness indicators in 13 patients out of 24 after four weeks of treatment, according to a report published by the Chinese newspaper South China Morning Post two days ago.
In the same context, the newspaper pointed to the case of one patient who regained the ability to speak, eat, and walk with the help of others, after spending three months in a coma following a brain hemorrhage.
For his part, the technique relies on using magnetic resonance imaging to precisely identify target areas, particularly the thalamus, which plays a fundamental role in regulating consciousness, processing sensory information, and linking different neural networks.
The researchers added that they direct pulses of focused ultrasound through the skull to the specified areas with the aim of stimulating neural activity and reactivating brain networks associated with consciousness, without the need for surgical intervention or implanting electrodes inside the brain.
He noted that the treatment plan involves three sessions per week, each lasting about 20 minutes, over a period of four weeks, with the aim of enhancing communication between neural areas responsible for consciousness and responding to external stimuli.
Preliminary results indicate the potential to benefit from this technique in dealing with long-term disorders of consciousness resulting from brain injuries and strokes, although its effectiveness and the persistence of its impact still require further scientific evaluation.
Researchers emphasize the importance of conducting broader clinical trials, including comparison groups and longer follow-up periods, to verify the safety and effectiveness of the technique and to identify the patients who benefit most from it, before adopting it within therapeutic practices.
Focused ultrasound may represent a new trend in developing non-invasive means of brain stimulation, thereby supporting rehabilitation efforts for patients with disorders of consciousness, but it remains a technique under study and cannot be considered a proven treatment for coma.
Source: Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
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