MORGANTOWN, W.Va. The Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute (RNI) is conducting a study with the hopes of using its focused ultrasound technology to treat Alzheimers.

During this study, doctors injected microscopic bubbles into the patients bloodstream and exposed the bubbles to focused ultrasound from a treatment helmet attached to the MRI, temporarily causing the blood-brain barrier to open, according to an RNI press release. the technique works by opening the blood-brain barrier, which separates the bloodstream from the brain tissue and restricts medicines, immunotherapy, gene therapy and other therapeutics from entering the brain, researchers hope it can reduce plaques and lessens symptoms.

The focused ultrasound technology, what weve been using to widely treat a number of conditions, for example, Parkinsons and tremor. Almost three years ago we started a clinical trial using focused ultrasound treatment for those with early Alzheimers and Judy Pollack was the first patient in the U.S. to undergo that trial in Oct. 2018. Since that time we have now had seven patients who have undergone this focused ultrasound treatment for Alzheimers. We are optimistic about the potential for this technology for helping those with early Alzheimers disease. Were seeing some elements where the Alzheimers progression seems to be improving with the earlier patients in the study, but we need to learn more about that.

Using focused ultrasound, RNI has already treated Nanette Miller, who was diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimers disease, and she is now, less than a year later, on the road to potential recovery due to the expansion of the groundbreaking technique. This is according to the press release, which stated that the method lessened Millers symptoms.

I think the results are encouraging so far, were able to show weve achieved the objectives of this study in terms of opening the blood-brain barrier, number one safely and consistently and reproducibly, Rezai said. Number two, show a reduction in beta-amyloid plaques. And three were seeing some early signs of slowing down the progression of Alzheimers.

As a result of the initial successes, Rezai said the study had been expanded. Initially, RNI was targeting the hippocampus, he said, the part of the brain which handles memory and thinking. Now, because the first trial was a success, the Food and Drug Administration has permitted them to expand to other parts of the brain.

There are currently two new patients that are enrolled in the expanded study, Rezai said. The goal remains the same, to use the focused ultrasound to fight early-onset Alzheimers and other dementias.

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WVU RNI pioneering Alzheimers treatment to wider region of the brain - WBOY.com