March 2026

NEUROSCIENCES

WHAT’S NEW IN ADVANCED THERAPIES FOR PARKINSON’S DISEASE?

In a recent review published to Current Neurology and Neuroscience Reports, Northwestern Medicine movement disorders specialists provide an overview of the rapidly evolving landscape of advanced Parkinson’s disease therapies.
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Continuous Dopaminergic Infusion: More Options, Less Invasive
New subcutaneous infusion therapies, including foscarbidopa/foslevodopa and apomorphine, meaningfully reduce OFF time and increase “good ON” time compared with oral therapy. These systems offer greater flexibility than intestinal infusion, though infusion‑site reactions remain an important clinical consideration.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS) Enters a New Era
DBS continues to evolve through:
  • Image‑guided programming, which can reduce programming time while achieving comparable motor outcomes
  • Adaptive (closed‑loop) DBS, using neural signals to dynamically adjust stimulation, with early evidence of improved symptom control and reduced energy use
  • Remote DBS programming, enabling earlier clinical benefit and expanding access for patients with travel or geographic barriers

Focused Ultrasound Targets Continue to Expand
MRI‑guided high‑intensity focused ultrasound is now approved for multiple targets, including the VIM, GPi and pallidothalamic tract, each offering distinct benefits and adverse‑event profiles. Ongoing studies continue to explore subthalamic nucleus targeting and staged bilateral approaches.

Low‑Intensity Focused Ultrasound Opens New Possibilities
Early human studies of low‑intensity focused ultrasound demonstrate safe, transient opening of the blood-brain barrier, supporting future strategies for targeted drug delivery and neuromodulation in Parkinson’s.

Cell‑Based Therapies Reach First‑in‑Human Milestones
Initial trials of stem cell-derived dopaminergic grafts show favorable safety profiles and evidence of graft survival and function. This marks a significant step toward restorative, and potentially disease‑modifying, therapies.

Why It Matters
Together, these advances reflect a maturing therapeutic landscape in which precision neuromodulation, incisionless interventions and biologic strategies are converging. The authors highlight the need for standardized biomarkers, long‑term outcome data and comparative studies to guide patient selection and maximize benefit.
Mariana Hernandez Gonzalez-Monje, MD, Instructor of Neurology at Northwestern Medicine
Juan Deliz Gonzalez, MD, Chief of Movement Disorders at Northwestern Medicine
​Leonard Verhagen Metman, MD, Professor of Movement Disorders and of Neurological Surgery at Northwestern Medicine
Neil Shetty, MD, Assistant Professor of Movement Disorders at Northwestern Medicine

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