A new therapy for Alzheimer’s, combining focused ultrasound with antibody treatments, has shown promise in human trials.
The treatment temporarily opens the blood-brain barrier, allowing antibodies to better access areas with amyloid-beta plaques.
In a study involving three patients, the therapy resulted in a 32% greater reduction in plaques compared to using the antibodies alone. (Trending: Hunter Biden’s Art Scheme Exposed By GOP Probe)
My jaw dropped,” says @DoctorAliRezai as he reviewed the surprising results from his Alzheimer's trial. Before and after images show that the brain plaque – which disrupts the communication between brain cells – was significantly reduced. https://t.co/w4j5P9KVLW pic.twitter.com/g38EU8K5pq
— 60 Minutes (@60Minutes) January 15, 2024
“This was a first in human safety and feasibility study in three participants demonstrating that the BBB opening can accelerate clearance of beta amyloid plaques,” study lead Dr. Ali Rezai said.
“Non-invasive focused ultrasound is an outpatient procedure that allows for targeted delivery of therapeutics to the brain that can potentially accelerate the benefit of the antibody treatment in Alzheimer’s disease,” he added.
“We verified with MRI scans that the BBB opening was temporary and it closed 24 to 48 hours after the FUS procedure,” he said
While the study is considered a first step and involved a small number of participants, experts find the results intriguing and believe it could lead to larger-scale trials to assess its full impact.
“A study like this is important because it demonstrates that there may be safe ways to increase drug delivery to the brain without any serious adverse effects,” Comprehensive Center for Brain Health director Dr. James Galvin said.
“Focused ultrasound has been used in other treatment paradigms for brain diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and brain tumors,” Galvin added. “It was also designed as a safety study and not appropriately powered to detect significant clinical changes,” he said.
“It is still too early to make any specific recommendations, but I am excited to see if there are planned follow-up studies with a larger number of patients.”
“The blood brain barrier, in its healthy form, protects the brain from harmful agents that could reach it via the bloodstream,” Alzheimer’s Association senior director of scientific engagement Rebecca M. Edelmayer stated.
“Getting therapeutics across this barrier — from the bloodstream into the brain tissue — is a challenge for any drug used to treat brain diseases, including drugs to treat Alzheimer’s disease,” she said.
“This is a great example of how learnings from research in other diseases might be repurposed for Alzheimer’s disease and other dementia.”
“We need more research in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease from all communities to know the full impact this approach could have.”
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