Results of Landmark Focused Ultrasound Trial for Alzheimer's Published

Landmark Trial Using Focused Ultrasound in Alzheimer’s Patients Presented at AAIC Meeting, Published in Nature Communications The results of the first ever clinical trial of focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in patients with Alzheimer’s disease have been published in Nature Communications and will also be presented today at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) in Chicago, Illinois. The pilot trial demonstrated the feasibility and preliminary safety of focally, reversibly and repetitively opening the BBB. “This trial is the first small but critically important step in a process that could potentially lead to a novel approach to delivering drugs to the brain to treat Alzheimer's disease,” said Neal F. Kassell, MD, founder and chairman of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation. “This study widens the horizon of possibility for focused ultrasound to become a treatment option for many neurological disorders by demonstrating that the technology can be used to open the blood-brain barrier...” The study was conducted at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto under the direction of Nir Lipsman, MD, PhD, Director of the Harquail Centre for Neuromodulation, and used Insightec’s Exablate Neuro device. The Focused Ultrasound Foundation funded and facilitated the organization of the trial. Dr. Lipsman is presenting data from this study today at AAIC and taking part in a panel discussion regarding the application of focused ultrasound to treat or manage Alzheimer’s disease.  READ THE RELEASE > See early coverage of the trial >   Patient Story: Meet Rick  Rick was the first patient to be treated in the clinical trial at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto. Watch as he discusses his diagnosis and motivation for participating in the trial.  WATCH NOW >