Research Progress of Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound in Parkinson's Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder where current pharmacological and surgical interventions, including Deep Brain Stimulation, often fail to reverse neuronal degeneration or halt disease progression. Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) has emerged as a novel, non-invasive neuromodulation technology with significant therapeutic potential. This review synthesizes current research on the key acoustic parameters, biological mechanisms, and clinical applications of LIPUS in PD. Unlike High-Intensity Focused Ultrasound (HIFU), which relies on thermal ablation to destroy target nuclei (e.g., Vim, STN), LIPUS utilizes low-energy mechanical waves (typically <3 W/cm²) to exert non-thermal regulatory effects without damaging tissue. Mechanisms of action include the modulation of mechanosensitive ion channels (e.g., Piezo1), enhancement of neuroplasticity via brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), promotion of autophagy, and regulation of microglial phenotypes to reduce neuroinflammation. We further compare LIPUS with HIFU, highlighting the superiority of LIPUS regarding safety, reversibility, and the absence of requirement for MRI-based thermal monitoring. While preliminary clinical studies using wearable LIPUS devices indicate improvements in motor and cognitive functions, a unified consensus on optimal stimulation parameters and targeting strategies is lacking. Future research should focus on large-scale, standardized clinical trials to establish precise protocols for LIPUS as a disease-modifying therapy for PD.