But within minutes of receiving a newly approved ultrasound treatment, his tremor was completely gone.<\/p>\n
Leavell, a retired salesman and Air Force veteran in Arlington, Texas, experienced the dramatic before-and-after result at UT Southwestern Medical Center.<\/p>\n
CARLY SIMON REVEALS THE COMMON CONDITION THAT MASKED HER PARKINSON’S DIAGNOSIS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n The focused ultrasound targeted precise areas deep in Leavell\u2019s brain. Unlike deep brain stimulation<\/a>, which requires opening the skull, this new treatment is non-invasive.<\/p>\n At his latest follow-up, Leavell’s tremor remained as well-controlled as it was immediately after the procedure, according to his doctor. When asked how the tremor was doing, Leavell responded with, \u00abWhat tremor?\u00bb<\/p>\n A non-invasive approach<\/p>\n Leavell was diagnosed with Parkinson\u2019s in 2017, immediately following surgery for thyroid cancer<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00abMy voice was weak and gravelly, and within a few days, a tremor set into my right hand,\u00bb he shared with Fox News Digital. \u00abBefore this time, I was experiencing a slow loss of my sense of smell.\u00bb<\/p>\n The tremors made it \u00abfrustratingly difficult\u00bb for Leavell to perform certain functions, especially anything that required fine motor skills in his dominant hand, such as using his binoculars or clicking a computer mouse.<\/p>\n NEUROLOGIST REVEALS WHY PARKINSON’S SYMPTOMS ARE OFTEN MISTAKEN FOR OTHER CONDITIONS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Dr. Bhavya Shah, a neuroradiologist at UT Southwestern Medical Center, introduced Leavell to the option of a focused ultrasound treatment<\/a> that was approved by the FDA in January 2026 to treat the primary motor symptoms of Parkinson\u2019s disease, including stiffness and slowness.<\/p>\n \u00abHigh-energy ultrasound waves are focused across the skull onto discrete brain targets,\u00bb Shah told Fox News Digital. \u00abThe ultrasound energy heats up these nuclei, or nerve bundles<\/a>, and removes them. This stops the pathologic transmission of electrical activity causing tremors or other symptoms.\u00bb<\/p>\n Parkinson\u2019s patient Bud Leavell, right, shows Dr. Bhavya Shah that his hand no longer has tremors after undergoing focused ultrasound at UT Southwestern Medical Center. (UT Southwestern Medical Center)<\/p>\n Patients who have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease are typically treated with medications, the doctor noted.<\/p>\n \u00abInterventional options are discussed when the medications become less effective or patients develop side effects,\u00bb he said. \u00abThese options include deep brain stimulation<\/a> and now, focused ultrasound.\u00bb<\/p>\n Parkinson’s disease can affect patients differently, Shah pointed out.<\/p>\n HOW EATING HABITS COULD INFLUENCE PARKINSON\u2019S DISEASE RISK, ACCORDING TO EXPERTS<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00abThe beauty of focused ultrasound is that before we permanently remove the tissue, we can use low-energy ultrasound waves to see if the patient’s symptoms respond to the particular target,\u00bb he said. \u00abThis is very important, as the optimal target may vary in patients.\u00bb<\/p>\n UT Southwestern also uses advanced imaging to map a patient’s brain<\/a> before the procedure, which gives doctors a clearer picture of the ultrasound\u2019s intended target, according to Shah.<\/p>\n Parkinson\u2019s patient Bud Leavell works on a radio at his Arlington, Texas, home. Leavell\u2019s hand tremors have stopped since receiving focused ultrasound therapy at the UT Southwestern Medical Center. (Bud Leavell)<\/p>\n In Leavell’s case, his tremor responded strongly even to the initial low-energy ultrasound, giving the team confidence that they had identified the right target.<\/p>\n \u00abAlthough the cardinal symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are slowness and stiffness, Bud\u2019s most bothersome symptom was tremor, so getting rid of the shaking was our primary goal,\u00bb Shah added, noting that doctors can select different brain targets based on which symptoms are most troublesome.<\/p>\n TEST YOURSELF WITH OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Leavell was eager to try the new therapy \u2013 but he did have some concerns about what the outcome would be.<\/p>\n \u00abThe entire team working this procedure was very professional and demonstrated considerable flexibility in making sure this was an easy process for me,\u00bb he told Fox News Digital.<\/p>\n Immediately after receiving the ultrasound therapy<\/a> on April 13, Leavell said his tremor was gone.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u00abI can hold my hand still with or without a tool in my hand or while working on a project,\u00bb he said. \u00abI can also get a fork or spoon with food on it into my mouth with ease. But, this may turn into another problem, as I love to eat!\u00bb<\/p>\n Leavell has also been able to return to his hobby of repairing antique radios.<\/p>\n Potential risks and tradeoffs<\/p>\n There are some potential risks associated with the treatment, Shah noted. Those include numbness and tingling around the mouth and fingertips, trouble walking, talking or swallowing, sometimes weakness in the upper or lower extremity, balance issues or struggles with episodic memory<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u00abSide effects occur approximately 20% to 30% of the time and generally improve over time,\u00bb the doctor added.<\/p>\n Dr. Bhavya Shah monitors brain activity of Parkinson\u2019s patient Bud Leavell as he undergoes focused ultrasound treatment at UT Southwestern Medical Center. (UT Southwestern Medical Center)<\/p>\n There is also one key tradeoff compared with deep brain stimulation, he noted \u2013 DBS can be adjusted if symptoms return or worsen, but with focused ultrasound, there is no device that can be reprogrammed.<\/p>\n That means if symptoms return after the focused ultrasound, the patient could potentially require another treatment.<\/p>\n CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Although the therapy has shown short-term effectiveness, because it is a newer technology, there is not yet long-term data<\/a> available.<\/p>\n \u00abFor patients seeking an alternative to an implantable device, focused ultrasound represents a promising alternative,\u00bb Shah said. \u00abA patient considering these options should have a thorough discussion with their movement disorder neurologist to really understand the pros and cons of each treatment.\u00bb<\/p>\n Parkinson\u2019s patient Bud Leavell works on a radio at his Arlington, Texas, home. Leavell\u2019s hand tremors have stopped since receiving focused ultrasound therapy at UT Southwestern Medical Center. (Bud Leavell)<\/p>\n Shah expressed optimism for the future of Parkinson\u2019s disease therapies, with the potential for other applications of focused ultrasound.<\/p>\n \u00abWhile this is not a panacea for Parkinson\u2019s, it is a dramatic and life-changing procedure.\u00bb<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n While he expressed appreciation for the procedure, Leavell emphasized that \u00abGod is in control<\/a> of the circumstances in my life and will continue to be.\u00bb<\/p>\n \u00abHowever, anytime an opportunity comes along like this one, I will jump on it to see if I can experience an improvement in my circumstances.\u00bb<\/p>\n![\"Bud](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/es\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/notremors.png\")
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