Breaking Barriers With Sound: Focused Ultrasound in the Brain

Focused ultrasound (FUS) is rapidly redefining the landscape of brain therapy, offering a noninvasive, highly precise alternative to traditional neurosurgical techniques. Enabled by advances in phased-array transducer technology, MRI-guided targeting and thermometry, and sophisticated treatment planning software, FUS delivers sub-millimeter accuracy through the skull while sparing surrounding tissue. This article provides a comprehensive yet accessible overview of the core technologies that make FUS possible, including phase correction for skull variability and real-time imaging for safety. We survey the broadening spectrum of clinical applications, from FDA-approved treatments for essential tremor and Parkinson’s disease to investigational uses in Alzheimer’s, glioblastoma, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and targeted drug delivery. Pioneering trials have demonstrated not only durable tremor control and motor improvement, but also the unique ability to deliver drugs directly to the brain and noninvasively target deep neuropsychiatric circuits.