Lord Julian Fellowes, the Oscar-winning creator of Downton Abbey, has undergone a transformative treatment for essential tremor (ET) using Insightec’s magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) technology. After living with the condition for over a decade, Fellowes experienced significant improvement in his symptoms, regaining the ability to write by hand—a skill central to both his personal and professional life. [insightec.com]
Essential tremor is the most common neurological movement disorder, affecting over 60 million people globally. It causes involuntary shaking, typically in the hands and arms, but can also impact the head, voice, and other body parts. The condition often leads to reduced quality of life, with many patients reporting difficulty in socializing, working, and pursuing hobbies. [www.prnewswire.com]
Fellowes, who serves as Honorary President of the National Tremor Foundation, has been a vocal advocate for increased awareness and access to treatment. He recently participated in a UK parliamentary meeting to highlight the unmet needs of over one million people affected by ET in the UK alone. Despite its prevalence—estimated to be eight to ten times more common than Parkinson’s disease—ET remains underdiagnosed and undertreated, with 97% of eligible patients not receiving advanced therapies. [www.imperial.nhs.uk]
The MR-guided focused ultrasound procedure, performed at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust, is a non-invasive outpatient treatment that uses ultrasound beams to target and ablate faulty neural pathways in the brain. Patients remain awake during the procedure, allowing real-time feedback to optimize results. Clinical trials have shown sustained symptom relief, with a 73% average improvement in tremor severity at five years post-treatment. [www.medbou…dtimes.com]
Fellowes partnered with Insightec to produce a short film documenting his journey, aiming to raise awareness and encourage others to explore this innovative therapy. “I’ve got the pleasure of being able to write again,” he shared. “My life feels much more normal again. I haven’t regretted it for one second”. [insightec.com]
Insightec’s focused ultrasound technology has now treated over 25,000 patients worldwide. As awareness grows, experts hope more individuals with ET will gain access to this safe, incisionless option. Professor Dipankar Nandi of Imperial College Healthcare emphasized, “Essential tremor is often misunderstood. MR-guided focused ultrasound is a proven, effective option for patients who do not find relief with medication”. [www.imperial.nhs.uk]
Deep brain ultrasound, also known as high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU) or MR-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) worked incredibly well for a patient we interviewed in Williamsburg Virginia. Her tremor had gotten so bad that she could not bring food to her mouth, put her earrings in her ear, or carry a liquid without fear of spilling. She originally sought treatment at the University of Virginia but was told “ Her skull was too thick for their machine. “
She was treated at Dana Faber. First a portion of her head was shaved, and the ultrasound was applied while in an MRI machine. The “cure” was immediate. Her right hand is as steady as can be. She did not have the other side of her brain done. When she lifted her left hand to show me the untreated tremor, it was obvious how handicapping that severe tremor could be.
Today many major medical centers offer this treatment which requires no anesthesia and no surgery.
For more information on essential tremor and focused ultrasound therapy, visit the National Tremor Foundation.
