Freezing of gait is a common Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptom where a person experiences the temporary, involuntary inability to move. This can make simple activities, like walking across a room, incredibly challenging and dangerous due to the risk of falls. Unfortunately, common Parkinson’s medications often don’t alleviate these freezing episodes. This has led researchers like Amitabh Bhattacharya, PhD, from the University Health Network (UHN) in Canada, to explore new treatments. 

Dr. Bhattacharya is a recipient of a 2024 Parkinson’s Foundation Postdoctoral Fellowship, and will use this support to study how TUS can be utilized to help people with PD create personalized non-invasive treatments that targets freezing of gait. 

“We will apply focused ultrasound waves to a specific part of the brain known as the pedunculopontine nucleus (PPN), a key region that helps control movement,” he said. “By precisely stimulating the PPN, we hope to make walking easier for people with Parkinson’s.” 

Participants, recruited with help from the Toronto Western Hospital Movement Disorders Clinic, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, will first undergo a high-resolution brain scan to create a detailed map of their brain, focusing on the PPN. This personalized brain map will guide the ultrasound device to ensure that the sound waves are precisely directed to the right spot.  

Each participant will receive three personalized TUS treatments, using different stimulation protocols to determine the most effective approach. To evaluate how well each protocol works, participants will be assessed before and after each session using tests that measure their walking ability, mental function, and brain activity. 

Finally, Dr. Bhattacharya will have enough scientific evidence to determine the ability of TUS in improving freezing of gait, as well as how to keep improving the technique to make it even safer and more effective. 

Dr. Bhattacharya is confident in this treatment’s potential to improve the lives of those experiencing PD-associated freezing of gait. “Targeting the PPN through non-invasive means such as TUS holds immense promise,” he said. “The ability of PPN-TUS to modulate these essential neural circuits could help restore a degree of normal motor function, thereby mitigating symptoms such as freezing of gait in PD.”  

The goal of this study is to explore TUS as a practical and effective treatment for freezing of gait in Parkinson’s Disease. TUS is a non-invasive approach that could offer a quicker, more accessible, and cost-effective option for patients. By avoiding the complexities and recovery time associated with surgical procedures like deep-brain stimulation (DBS), TUS has the potential to enhance mobility and improve quality of life. The accessibility of this new potential treatment is top-of-mind for Dr. Bhattacharya.  

“PPN-TUS offers a non-invasive, cost-effective alternative with fewer potential complications compared to PPN-DBS,” he said. “This study could transform the way we help Parkinson's patients regain their mobility. If successful, this non-invasive method may eventually become a standard treatment, offering improved quality of life for individuals with Parkinson’s disease.” 

Meet more Parkinson’s researchers! Explore our My PD Stories featuring PD researchers.

Research has shown that 2.5 hours of weekly exercise, along with medication, can significantly improve the quality of life for people living with Parkinson's. Our Fitness Friday at-home video series is all about helping people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and their loved ones try new exercises that can help with strength, balance and symptom management.

From Yoga and Tai Chi to full body classes, Fitness Friday videos let you choose the workout that works for you. Explore our most popular Fitness Friday workouts below:

1.  LSVT BIG Movements

In our all-time most popular Fitness Friday video, follow along with LSVT BIG exercises that focus on making “BIG” movements with your arms, legs and torso in all directions. Learn how to work through the small, slow movements that are common with Parkinson’s.

2.  Posture and Strength

Parkinson’s can impact posture, leading to stooped or rounded shoulders or the forward lean of the head or whole body, making you look hunched over. Learn exercises and tips for maintaining posture. Roll through this great workout designed for everyone — take the class standing, seated or both.

3.  Non-Contact Boxing

This high-intensity boxing class will help you move with strength. Stretch and warm up and learn boxing training techniques. This class concentrates on improvement and maintenance of proper boxing form and technique with a focus on complex combinations, footwork drills and fall recovery.

4.  Tai Chi for PD

In this great introduction to Tai Chi, an internal Chinese martial art, follow along with the slow, rhythmic motions that stretch the muscles and joints. Work on stimulating balance, coordination and mental focus that promotes overall health and well-being.

5.   Move to Improve

This video aims to help you feel stronger and more confident with everyday movement. This class incorporates strength, mobility and balance training. Exercises are first done in a seated position then transition to standing.

6.  Dance for Parkinson's

Dance/movement therapy is a form of psychotherapy that uses movement in all forms. Join a medium intensity, creative dance class that encourages large movements, multi-tasking, dynamic balance, weight shifting and aerobic rhythmic coordination. Grab a sturdy chair for this session.

7.  Full Body Workout with InMotion

Join two instructors through an immersive full-body class as they guide you through cardio, strength, balance, agility, brain exercises and flexibility. This immersive and fun workout brings all fitness components together.

8.  Gentle Yoga for Parkinson’s

This soothing and supportive gentle yoga class is designed with PD in mind. Through a series of accessible yoga poses and guided meditation, this video focuses on gentle movements, mindful breathing techniques and relaxation exercises to promote flexibility, improve balance and reduce muscle stiffness commonly associated with PD.

9.  Strong & Steady

This video focuses on exercises aimed to improve gait mechanics and reduce fall risk. Try standing exercises aimed to help improve posture along with the muscles associated with sound walking mechanics, and gait drills that can help you stand strong and move steadily.

10.  Moving for Better Balance

This fun and effective video offers movements to help you become stronger, steadier and safer. These exercises target the specific components of balance that are often impacted by Parkinson’s.

Watch all our Fitness Friday videos on our YouTube channel