Phase 1 Trial Begins Evaluating Safety of Focused Ultrasound in Alzheimer’s Patients
Insightec’s new platform, Exablate Neuro, is to be a part of the first-ever clinical trial (NCT02986932) evaluating the safety and feasibility of opening the blood-brain barrier (BBB) in Alzheimer’s disease patients at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto, Canada.
Exablate Neuro uses a technique called focused ultrasound, a noninvasive therapeutic technology. It applies ultrasonic energy to target tissues that are located deep within the brain without the use of incisions or radiation.
Multiple beams are projected through the brain with no individual effect. Once they converge on a focal point, the ultrasound then works towards healing the tissue. This technology is currently being explored for the treatment of a variety of diseases, including essential tremor, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s.
Six Alzheimer’s patients, ages 50-85, will be enrolled in this Phase 1 trial. The procedure involves two rounds of noninvasive focused ultrasound. The first stage involves focused ultrasound with Exablate Neuro to a small area in the right frontal lobe.
The second stage involves a similar procedure, where the focused ultrasound will target a larger area of the right frontal lob. Images obtained from each procedure will allow researchers to determine whether the blood-brain barrier was opened.
Previous work conducted in animal models demonstrated that opening the blood
I am about to become the 4th generation of women to be plagued by Alzehienmer’s disease and your study is very appealing to me.
Are any studies to be done in Arizona or close to this state.
Unfortunately, the only study evaluating the use of focused ultrasound in Alzheimer’s patients in being conducted in Canada right now. Hopefully, this trial will be a success and will move down south to the US. You can find more information at https://www.fusfoundation.org/for-patients/clinical-trials.
Thank you.
What trials we’re done to get to this point?
Will we get anything like this in the U.K.?
I will come to you in Canada to have my wife included in this possible therapy. Can you let me know the details on next steps?
hi
i am in south africa. and this looks promising. david has alzheimers 5 years now
where in south africa can we do this