IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/nat/natcom/v9y2018i1d10.1038_s41467-018-04529-6.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Blood–brain barrier opening in Alzheimer’s disease using MR-guided focused ultrasound

Author

Listed:
  • Nir Lipsman

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto
    Sunnybrook Research Institute)

  • Ying Meng

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Allison J. Bethune

    (University of Toronto
    Sunnybrook Research Institute)

  • Yuexi Huang

    (University of Toronto)

  • Benjamin Lam

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Mario Masellis

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Nathan Herrmann

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Chinthaka Heyn

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Isabelle Aubert

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Alexandre Boutet

    (University of Toronto)

  • Gwenn S. Smith

    (Johns Hopkins University)

  • Kullervo Hynynen

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

  • Sandra E. Black

    (University of Toronto
    University of Toronto)

Abstract

Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound in combination with intravenously injected microbubbles has been shown to transiently open the blood–brain barrier, and reduce beta-amyloid and tau pathology in animal models of Alzheimer’s disease. Here, we used focused ultrasound to open the blood–brain barrier in five patients with early to moderate Alzheimer’s disease in a phase I safety trial. In all patients, the blood–brain barrier within the target volume was safely, reversibly, and repeatedly opened. Opening the blood–brain barrier did not result in serious clinical or radiographic adverse events, as well as no clinically significant worsening on cognitive scores at three months compared to baseline. Beta-amyloid levels were measured before treatment using [18F]-florbetaben PET to confirm amyloid deposition at the target site. Exploratory analysis suggested no group-wise changes in amyloid post-sonication. The results of this safety and feasibility study support the continued investigation of focused ultrasound as a potential novel treatment and delivery strategy for patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

Suggested Citation

  • Nir Lipsman & Ying Meng & Allison J. Bethune & Yuexi Huang & Benjamin Lam & Mario Masellis & Nathan Herrmann & Chinthaka Heyn & Isabelle Aubert & Alexandre Boutet & Gwenn S. Smith & Kullervo Hynynen &, 2018. "Blood–brain barrier opening in Alzheimer’s disease using MR-guided focused ultrasound," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-8, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04529-6
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04529-6
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-018-04529-6
    File Function: Abstract
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1038/s41467-018-04529-6?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:9:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-018-04529-6. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    We have no bibliographic references for this item. You can help adding them by using this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Sonal Shukla or Springer Nature Abstracting and Indexing (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.nature.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.