Explore the groundbreaking intersection of technology and neuroscience as we delve into the potential of portable focused ultrasound systems to penetrate the blood-brain barrier in Alzheimer’s patients, a promising step towards innovative treatments.
– by James
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Blood-Brain Barrier Opening in Alzheimer’s Disease Patients Using Portable Focused Ultrasound System.
Bae et al., medRxiv 2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.21.23300222
Summary of Phase 1 Clinical Study on Portable FUS for Alzheimer’s Disease
New Information: A pilot phase 1 clinical study demonstrates the use of a portable neuronavigated focused ultrasound (FUS) system for blood-brain barrier opening (BBBO) in Alzheimer’s disease patients, without the need for surgery or MRI during treatment.
Importance: This study is significant as it suggests a more accessible and less invasive method for BBBO, which could facilitate drug delivery and immunotherapy for Alzheimer’s disease.
Contribution to Literature: The study contributes to the current literature by providing evidence of the safety and feasibility of a portable FUS system for clinical use.
– BBBO was achieved in 5 out of 6 subjects with an average volume of 983±626 mm3.
– The outpatient treatment duration was 34.8±10.7 minutes.
– Real-time cavitation monitoring correlated with BBBO volume (R2>0.9, p<0.05), indicating the system’s predictive capability.
– Increased BBBO volumes were associated with higher levels of Alzheimer’s biomarkers in serum-derived extracellular vesicles, such as Aβ42/Aβ40 (R2=0.74), Tau (R2=0.95), and P-Tau181 (R2=0.86).
– 18F-Florbetapir PET scans showed a reduced Aβ accumulation rate in the treated region compared to the untreated side.
– Mini-mental state examination scores over 6 months were consistent with expected disease progression.
In summary, the study presents a promising low-cost and portable alternative for BBBO in Alzheimer’s treatment, potentially enhancing patient access to advanced therapies.