Experts are making significant strides in the treatment options for Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders.
Among the latest successes is the use of focused ultrasound for Parkinson’s.
The Kensington White Plains recently hosted an engaging discussion with Dr. Gordon Baltuch of Columbia University Irving Medical Center about how focused ultrasound is being used to treat essential tremor and the tremors associated with Parkinson’s disease.
Read on to learn more about the information discussed at our event, including how focused ultrasound works and how The Kensington White Plains supports those with Parkinson’s disease in our community.
How does focused ultrasound help those with Parkinson’s disease?
About 1 million Americans are living with Parkinson’s disease today, with 60,000 new diagnoses every year.
Some of the most challenging Parkinson’s symptoms include tremors, slowed movements, or muscle stiffness, which can not only make movement increasingly difficult but can impact a senior’s social confidence.
Additionally, the medications used to treat tremor-dominant Parkinson’s disease symptoms often result in involuntary movements known as dyskinesia.
During the discussion with The Kensington White Plains community, Dr. Gordon Baltuch explained the success behind focused ultrasound, and how it is being used to treat Parkinson’s tremors.
Who is Dr. Gordon Baltuch?
Dr. Gordon Baltuch diagnoses and treats neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and other movement disorders.
He was one of the first neurosurgeons in the U.S. to use deep brain stimulation to reduce tremors and other motor symptoms in people with Parkinson’s disease and other movement disorders.
He became a pioneer in the use of focused ultrasound, a nonsurgical procedure approved in 2016 to treat essential tremors.
Dr. Gordon Baltuch shared his deep understanding of Parkinson’s disease and explained focused ultrasound to The Kensington White Plains community.
What is focused ultrasound for Parkinson’s?
Focused ultrasound treats the movement symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease without an incision or the need for anesthesia or a hospital stay.
While a Parkinson’s diagnosis and the journey that follows is no easy feat, there is hope for improved quality of life for those with Parkinson’s and their care partners through the use of focused ultrasound.
How does focused ultrasound reverse symptoms?
During an MRI-guided focused ultrasound procedure, doctors target the necessary areas of the brain using ultrasonic waves.
The patient is in an MRI machine during the procedure, which allows the doctors to evaluate the brain as they work.
The results are often instant, and because the procedure is non-invasive there are fewer risks and side effects than other procedures.
Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is currently the most common procedure for Parkinson’s tremors but is an open-brain surgery, which can put certain patients at a greater risk despite the procedure’s success.
Most often, those with Parkinson’s disease use medications to help with movement issues.
Focused ultrasound therapy currently can only be performed on one side of the body, but researchers are working to determine whether this can change in the future.
What to look for in Parkinson’s care offered in assisted living
Parkinson’s disease is progressive, meaning the symptoms are mild at first and gradually worsen over time.
Treatment options can help a senior improve their symptoms, but there still may come a point when your loved one needs more care and assistance than you or your family are able to provide on your own.
Fortunately, assisted living communities such as The Kensington White Plains are able to offer a full spectrum of enhanced clinical support, including rehabilitation services, life enrichment activities, dining services, and much more.
Rehabilitation services such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can help those with Parkinson’s disease maintain independence through exercises to improve strength and mobility and strategies to overcome new challenges.
We also offer specialized dementia and Alzheimer’s care, with proven strategies and programs to enhance cognition.
If you’re seeking Parkinson’s care for a loved one, you need a community that welcomes residents with all care needs—even those with advanced Parkinson’s disease—and is equipped to accommodate this full spectrum of needs.
The Kensington White Plains offers:
- Wheelchair assistance
- Assistance for those requiring wound care, catheters, feeding tubes, or daily insulin injections
- Two or three-person assists
- Hoyer lifts
- Medications administered by nurses who are on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week
- Specialized diets, including pureed for easier swallowing
- Relationships with multiple physicians who can care for our residents on-site, including cardiologists, pulmonologists, neurologist, urologist, psychiatrists, podiatrist, endocrinologist, wound doctor, and more
No matter how your loved one’s care needs evolve over time, they have a safe home with us, staffed by loving individuals dedicated to their health and happiness.
The Kensington White Plains—leaders in high acuity care and Parkinson’s care
The Kensington White Plains Promise is to love and care for your family as we do our own.
Our goal is to provide the highest levels of care, also known as high acuity care, through our enhanced assisted living licensing.
Additionally, we can handle every detail of coordinating your loved one’s medical care so you don’t have to.
We offer concierge services and care coordination for resident’s medical needs, which includes:
- Scheduling appointments with doctors
- Providing transportation to and from the appointment
- Notifying family members before and after
For emergency hospital visits, a care manager accompanies your loved one to the hospital until family arrives.
Our team of caregivers cares for residents with a high degree of sensitivity and patience. We help residents maintain the highest level of independence possible by watching for cues when they need more support, and retreating when necessary.
If you’d like to learn more about our community, our services, our events with leading Parkinson’s experts, and more, reach out to our team today.
Feel free to check out our events page for upcoming events and take a look at our suites and floor plans.