Ultrasound blows the brains of 2 comatose people

Scientists have reported having found some success in using low-intensity focused ultrasound to “ wake up ” parts of the brain of people in coma conditions, awakening certain functions in patients who were previously in a “ state of coma. minimal consciousness ” (MCS).

The method uses ultrasound stimulation to excite neurons in the thalamus, a processing center for the entire brain and an area known to be weaker after a coma. Two 10-minute treatment sessions were administered to three MCS patients, with one week between each session.

While one patient showed no response, the researchers found significant improvements in the other two patients. The research is based on similar results from 2016, involving a patient recovering from surgery and a medically induced coma. In the new study, the coma had lasted much longer.

A person in a minimally conscious state may show clear but subtle or inconsistent signs of consciousness. These signs, such as blinking on command or being awake, are usually sufficiently supported not to be considered reflex behaviors and help differentiate MCS from coma or vegetative states.

“I consider this new finding to be much more meaningful because these chronic patients were much less likely to recover spontaneously than the acute patient we treated in 2016, and any recovery generally occurs slowly over several months and more typically years, and not days and weeks, as we show, ”says neuroscientist Martin Monti

, University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).

“It is highly unlikely that our findings were simply due to spontaneous recovery.”

One of the patients who responded to treatment was a 56-year-old man, who had been in a minimally conscious state for over 14 months, unable to communicate at all. After the treatment, he was not only able to look at the photos of the family members when their names were mentioned, but he was also able to drop or catch a ball on request. When asked simple questions about his identity, he may have shaken his head “yes” or “no”.

The other patient who was showing signs of progress, a 50-year-old woman, had been in even deeper MCS for more than two and a half years. After the ultrasound sessions, she was able to understand speech and recognize basic objects, such as a pencil and a comb.

Researchers say the technique is safe because it only uses a small amount of energy and there has been no change in blood pressure, heart rate, or oxygen levels in the blood of patients. patients.

A small device directs the ultrasound to the thalamus. (Martín Monti / UCLA)

“It’s what we expected, but it’s impressive to see it with your own eyes.” Said Monti. “Seeing two of our three patients who had been chronically ill improve significantly in the days following treatment is an extremely promising result.”

It is important to stress that the research is still in an initial and experimental phase. Although the 50-year-old woman showed greater signs of consciousness months later, the differences from baseline MCS were not as significant. And after a few months without treatment, the 56-year-old had returned to something close to his original coma.

Add in the patient who did not respond at all to treatment, and researchers remain cautious about whether the ultrasound is successful and how quickly it is implemented. However, these results are very encouraging: there are strong indications that this type of treatment could help some patients in some cases.

The treatment can be applied in a saucer-sized device, and the researchers hope it can eventually be used at home in patients who are in long-term vegetative states or in a minimally conscious state.

“It is important to note that these behaviors are diagnostic markers for the onset of a disturbance of consciousness,” says Monti. “For these patients, the smallest step can be very important, for them and their families. To them, it means the world.

The research was published in Brain stimulation.