If you have ever known someone in your life to be affected by Alzheimer's disease, you are aware of how terrible the illness is. not just for the individual who is afflicted, but also for their friends and family. Over 50 million people globally suffer from Alzheimer's disease, and there is currently no treatment or vaccine for it. Two distinct kinds of lesions accumulate in the brain to cause the disease. One kind, known as amyloid plaques, is a type of sticky protein that forms between brain neurons and obstructs normal neuronal communication. Neurofibrillary tangles, the other type of lesion, are another thick protein mass that forms in between neurons. The challenge in treating the illness is getting rid of the accumulations around the neurons in a non-invasive way.
Well, a research team from the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI) at the University of Queensland thinks they may have an answer. In their recent report in Science Translational Medicine, the team documented astounding results with using a specific type of ultrasound to restore brain function in mice. By using a therapeutic ultrasound technique to beam sound waves into the brains of the mice, they were able to safely break up the protein lesions that caused a decrease in memory function. The results showed that the scientists were able to restore the memory function in 75% of the mice they tested. These results also came with absolutely no damage to the surrounding brain tissue.
In a recent press release, Jürgen Götz said, “We’re extremely excited by this innovation of treating Alzheimer’s without using drug therapeutics. The word ‘breakthrough’ is often misused, but in this case, I think this really does fundamentally change our understanding of how to treat this disease, and I foresee a great future for this approach.” The team is planning on expanding their tests and hope to enter human trials by 2017. It’s amazing to think that in our lifetime we might actually see a treatment for a disease that causes so much pain across the world.