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, February 8 — Scientists from China have discovered a key brain network linked to Parkinson’s disease, with initial clinical trials reporting positive outcomes from therapies that specifically focus on this network.

The finding was identified by a group headed by Professor Liu Hesheng from the Changping Laboratory in Beijing and was released on Thursday in the journal Nature.

As per the China Parkinson’s Disease Report 2025, over 5 million individuals in China are affected by Parkinson’s disease, representing roughly 40 percent of the global patient population. This illness is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative condition, following Alzheimer’s disease.

For a long time, Parkinson’s has been primarily seen as a condition affecting movement, with symptoms like shaking, slow movements, and trouble walking. Nevertheless, individuals with the disease also experience various non-movement related issues, such as low blood pressure, sleep problems, and digestive difficulties, which have proven more challenging to understand and manage.

A research project with over 800 participants revealed that Parkinson’s disease impacts a brain system referred to as the somato-cognitive action network, or SCAN. Situated in the cerebral cortex, this network links essential areas responsible for movement regulation, such as the basal ganglia and thalamus, which are typically addressed in current therapies.

The research found that the links between SCAN and these areas are unusually enhanced in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Scientists noted that grasping this altered connectivity is essential, as it suggests potential new therapies that may target both movement and non-movement symptoms from their origin.

Expanding upon this and previous research, Liu’s team contributed to the creation of a precise brain circuit stimulator via Galaxy Brain Scientific Inc., able to pinpoint problematic areas of the brain with accuracy down to the millimeter. The technology relies on Personalized Brain Functional Sectors, which provide more detailed mapping of individual brain functions and are integrated with real-time navigation for accurate magnetic stimulation.

Due to the significant differences in functional brain regions among individuals, the new method enables physicians to pinpoint areas affected by Parkinson’s disease much faster. According to Deng Wei, CEO of Galaxy Brain Scientific Inc., this process previously took 15 to 30 minutes using traditional techniques, whereas the new system can locate targets in under a second.

After identifying the target, the device employs an external magnetic field to activate nerve cells via transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, enhancing brain function without requiring surgical intervention.

Clinical studies revealed that after two weeks of therapy, individuals whose SCAN network was targeted had an effectiveness rate of 55.5 percent, in contrast to 22.2 percent in a control group receiving treatment in adjacent brain areas.

The findings highlight the promise of personalized, non-invasive, and precisely directed therapies for individuals with Parkinson’s disease in China and other nations. Starting from 2025, five medical facilities throughout China, such as those in Beijing, Henan, Guangdong, Zhejiang, and Sichuan, have started implementing the latest technology.

The expense is also considerably less compared to surgical procedures. Although brain surgeries may cost approximately 200,000 yuan, each TMS session costs under 200 yuan. A treatment period usually takes two to three weeks and is conducted every six months, with extended usage possibly helping to slow the advancement of the condition.

Hu Ying, 64, was one of the initial patients to undergo the treatment in 2022. She was diagnosed in 2018, and her health quickly deteriorated, resulting in frequent falls, trouble swallowing, and a loss of facial expressions. Since surgery was not an option and medications stopped working, she chose the new therapy.

Following an 18-day treatment course, Hu was able to walk on her own again, with significant improvements in her speech and ability to swallow. After nearly four years of ongoing therapy, she is now able to sing karaoke with her friends.

Her spouse, Jiang Ke, mentioned that the treatment has significantly improved their lives, allowing them to travel throughout China and even go to Europe. “We never thought we would still be able to do this,” he stated.