Ultrasound as a glimmer of hope in Alzheimer's

Study: New treatment method for Alzheimer's patients?

03/13/2015

Ultrasound could be used in the future for the treatment of Alzheimer's. Researchers at the University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia treated mice in this way and achieved great success. Whether the ultrasound method is actually suitable for humans, must be checked in further studies. Their results published the researchers in the trade magazine „Science Translational Medicine“.

Alzheimer's typical protein deposits could be removed by ultrasound
The diagnosis of Alzheimer's is a shock to sufferers and their loved ones. As the disease progresses, patients lose more and more of their cognitive ability, so that they are increasingly unable to do everyday things without help.

An Australian study now brings new hope for Alzheimer's patients. In mice suffering from Alzheimer's disease, the researchers used ultrasound in combination with the administration of a contrast agent to remove the disease-typical amyloid plaques, toxic protein deposits. In addition, the memory of the animals improved. „We did not expect such a pronounced effect“, cited „tagesspiegel.de“ Jürgen Götz, one of the study authors. „The treatment has restored the memory of the animals to normal levels.“

Whether ultrasound treatment also works against Alzheimer's in humans is still unclear
For several weeks, the mice were treated with a special ultrasound technique, the effect of which was enhanced by a contrast medium. According to Götz, the ultrasound waves could activate microglial cells, which are called „police“ of the brain. The microglial cells would pick up and digest the amyloid protein clumps from the tissue, reports the newspaper's online edition.

The contrast agent causes a temporary opening of the blood-brain barrier, which facilitates the removal of the brain-damaging amyloid plaques. Normally, the blood-brain barrier is closed to protect the brain from pathogens.

Whether the ultrasound method can also be used successfully in humans must be checked in further studies. Next, the researchers are planning appropriate tests with sheep. However, it is unclear whether the removal of amyloid protein lumps is actually helpful for the patient. „From what we know, it does not help or even harm the patient when amyloid deposits are removed“, says Oliver Peters, Alzheimer's expert at the Berlin Charité, to the newspaper to consider. (Ag)