The end of memory loss and cognitive decline? This may not be a total solution, but it's amazing progress.

Parkinson’s disease and other neurological disorders are often treated with deep brain stimulation (DBS), which requires brain surgery to implant electrodes. These electrodes deliver electrical signals to targeted brain regions, helping manage symptoms.

However, the procedure is invasive and requires a pacemaker-like device implanted in the chest, connected by subcutaneous wires.

To address these challenges, researchers from MIT and Germany’s Friedrich-Alexander University have developed tiny "magnetoelectric nanodiscs" (MENDs) that offer a less invasive alternative.

These MENDs are hexagonal particles just 250 nanometers wide, composed of a magnetostrictive core and a piezoelectric shell. When exposed to an external magnetic field, the core changes shape, generating electricity through the shell. Unlike previous spherical particles, the flat shape of MENDs enhances their effectiveness.

The discs can be injected directly into specific brain regions via small holes in the skull and activated by an external electromagnet, eliminating the need for chest implants and wires. In tests on mice, MENDs successfully replicated the motor control benefits of implanted electrodes.

Researchers are now working on boosting their efficiency, potentially paving the way for a game-changing treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Learn more: https://news.mit.edu/2024/tiny....-magnetic-discs-offe