WASHINGTON. A study led by Dr. Ali Rezai of West Virginia University’s Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute, scientists have discovered a novel method to enhance the penetration of Alzheimer’s drugs into the brain by temporarily breaching its protective shield. Although the experiment was conducted on just three patients, the results are promising as the new technology effectively improved the removal of Alzheimer’s plaque in targeted brain areas.
The focus of this innovation is the blood-brain barrier, a protective lining in blood vessels that prevents harmful substances from entering the brain from the bloodstream. However, this barrier also impedes the delivery of drugs for Alzheimer’s and other neurologic diseases, necessitating higher doses for longer durations to reach their intended targets.
The researchers employed focused ultrasound technology to create temporary openings in the blood-brain barrier. Microscopic bubbles were injected into the bloodstream, and sound waves were directed through a specialized helmet-like device to a precise area of the brain. The energy pulses caused the microbubbles to vibrate, creating gaps in the barrier that allowed medications to enter.
Dr. Rezai emphasized the goal of providing patients with a head start, especially for new Alzheimer’s treatments that typically require a considerable amount of time to exhibit their effects. The study involved administering Aduhelm, an Alzheimer’s drug, to three patients with mild Alzheimer’s for six months. Focused ultrasound was applied immediately after each intravenous infusion to enhance drug penetration.
Positron emission tomography (PET) scans revealed a 32% greater reduction in plaque in areas where the blood-brain barrier was breached compared to the opposite side of the brain. While Dr. Eliezer Masliah of the National Institute on Aging acknowledged the elegance of the pilot study, he cautioned that the small sample size limits drawing definitive conclusions.
Despite the cautious approach, Masliah expressed excitement over the compelling data, stating that it opens the door for more extensive and larger studies. Dr. Rezai plans to conduct further tests with the drug Leqembi and believes that larger studies will be necessary to determine the real impact of combining focused ultrasound with Alzheimer’s drugs.
Researchers are exploring whether breaching the blood-brain barrier could also facilitate the delivery of chemotherapy to brain tumors and target other diseases. However, concerns about potential side effects, such as bleeding and swelling in the brain, underscore the need for thorough monitoring and evaluation as this promising avenue of research advances.
Gary P Hernal started college at UP Diliman and received his BA in Economics from San Sebastian College, Manila, and Masters in Information Systems Management from Keller Graduate School of Management of DeVry University in Oak Brook, IL. He has 25 years of copy editing and management experience at Thomson West, a subsidiary of Thomson Reuters.
