What if a tremor that’s dominated your life could be treated without a single incision? In this episode, Dr Tabish Saifee and Professor Ludvic Zrinzo explain how focused ultrasound is transforming the treatment of essential tremor, a condition affecting up to five percent of the UK population. They outline the patient journey from diagnosis to treatment, explore how multidisciplinary teams decide on the best approach, and discuss how MRI-guided focused ultrasound compares with deep brain stimulation and radiofrequency ablation.

The conversation unpacks the science behind this incisionless procedure, why Queen Square achieves some of the lowest side-effect rates in the world, and how research is expanding to include Parkinson’s disease and mental health conditions.

Key Topics Covered:

• What essential tremor is and how it’s diagnosed
• How focused ultrasound works as a non-invasive brain treatment
• The multidisciplinary process of patient selection
• Differences between focused ultrasound, deep brain stimulation and radiofrequency ablation
• How the team achieves fewer side effects through precision targeting
• Future research into Parkinson’s disease and mental health applications
• The goal of NHS commissioning for wider patient access

Follow the Queen Square In Focus Podcast to hear from the world’s leading neuroscientists and clinicians transforming brain health through innovation, research, and patient care.

Key Moments:

00:00 – What essential tremor is and how it affects daily life

02:00 – How diagnosis is made and what GPs should know

03:25 – The role of the multidisciplinary team in treatment decisions

06:05 – How MRI-guided focused ultrasound works

10:33 – Balance testing and patient safety during surgery

11:14 – Why shaving the head matters for accuracy

13:25 – Step-by-step through the focused ultrasound procedure

15:08 – How neurologists assess tremor during treatment

16:37 – Why Queen Square’s targeting precision improves outcomes

17:36 – Long-term results and reduced side effects

20:48 – Expanding applications for Parkinson’s disease and mental health

23:16 – The push for NHS commissioning and research funding

25:43 – Real patient stories and life-changing results