Alzheimer's treatment with ultrasound technology

University of Queensland researchers have discovered that non-invasive ultrasound technology can be used to treat Alzheimer’s disease and restore memory in mice, breaking apart the neurotoxic amyloid-β (Aβ) plaques that result in cognitive decline.

The study was published in the journal Science Translational Medicine by PhD student Gerhard Leinenga along with corresponding author Professor Jürgen Götz, the director of the Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research at UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute. Professor Götz said the new method utilises “ultrasound and microbubble technology”, in contrast to expensive antibodies.

“The ultrasound waves oscillate tremendously quickly, activating microglial cells that digest and remove the amyloid plaques that destroy brain synapses,” Professor Götz said.

The approach is able to open the blood-brain barrier, activating mechanisms that clear toxic protein clumps and restoring memory functions. Professor Götz noted that “the blood-brain barrier’s opening is only temporary for a few hours, so it quickly restores its protective role”.

The researchers stated that plaque was reduced in all mice treated with the new method, and completely cleared in 75%. The mice were also said to display improved performance on three memory tasks, with Professor Götz claiming the treatment restored memory function to “the same level of normal healthy mice”.

Professor Götz said he is “extremely excited by this innovation of treating Alzheimer’s without using drug therapeutics” and that it “really does fundamentally change our understanding of how to treat this disease”. He added that the team is “also working on seeing whether this method clears toxic protein aggregates in neurodegenerative diseases other than Alzheimer’s and whether this also restores executive functions”.

The founder director of QBI, Professor Perry Bartlett, said the work was made possible through the support of the state and federal governments and philanthropic support led by the Clem Jones Foundation. Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed that the funding of the technology was “a worthwhile investment”, stating, “I want my government to encourage more of this type of innovative research.”

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