Ultrasound therapy instantly stops Parkinson tremor for Texas veteran

At UT Southwestern Medical Center, 72-year-old Bud Leavell received a focused ultrasound intervention that rapidly eradicated the tremor that had limited his daily activities since his Parkinson’s diagnosis in 2017. Unlike deep-brain stimulation, the technique uses high-energy sound waves to heat and ablate targeted brain nuclei without surgical incisions. Dr. Bhavya Shah noted that low-energy testing confirmed the correct target before the permanent treatment, and the patient reported full control of his hand immediately after the April 13 procedure.

Follow-up visits show the tremor remains suppressed, allowing Leavell to resume hobbies such as repairing antique radios. The doctor cautioned that side effects occur in roughly 20-30 % of cases and that the procedure cannot be reprogrammed if symptoms return, unlike implantable devices.