Cognitive Outcomes Following Second-Sided Focused Ultrasound Thalamotomy for Tremor

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Neurosurgery
• Medical Devices

Background:

• Staged bilateral thalamotomy historically linked to cognitive impairment.
• Essential tremor (ET) management challenges with medication resistance.

Purpose of the Study:

• Assess cognitive outcomes after sequential bilateral focused ultrasound (FUS) thalamotomy in ET patients.
• Evaluate the safety of a second FUS thalamotomy procedure on cognitive function.

Main Methods:

• Cognitive testing performed pre- and 4-months post-second-sided FUS thalamotomy.
• Study included 21 individuals with medication-refractory ET.
• Group and individual cognitive changes were analyzed.

Main Results:

• No significant cognitive declines observed at the group level.
• 95% of individual cognitive test scores remained stable.
• Infrequent declines (2%) and improvements (3%) noted; no participant declined on more than two tests.

Conclusions:

• Second-sided FUS thalamotomy demonstrates a minimal risk of cognitive decline.
• The procedure appears safe for cognitive function in ET patients undergoing bilateral treatment.