Scanning ultrasound was safe and well tolerated in a first-in-human Alzheimer’s pilot study conducted in Australia.
The pilot split 12 people with Alzheimer’s into groups to test different levels of ultrasound stimulation in the brain.
Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and affects more than 480,000 Australians.
Without major scientific advances, 6.4 million people are expected to be diagnosed over the next 40 years.
Researchers from the University of Queensland’s Queensland Brain Institute Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research conducted the study.
Professor Peter Nestor said: “We found it was fast, safe and well tolerated which is very encouraging and opens the door to further human studies.”
Professor Nestor aded: “Although the aim of this study was to assess the safety of the technique, there were some encouraging signs that the treatment may possibly help with some of the behavioural problems that can emerge in Alzheimer’s disease, which will be explored in a new trial.”
Professor Jürgen Götz said some caregivers reported participants were less agitated, though it was too early to determine if the treatment was effective.
Professor Götz said: “Further trials in a larger group of participants will be needed before we can draw any strong conclusions that scanning ultrasound can improve dementia symptoms.
“The safety study was an important step in testing our new device to deliver the ultrasound, and now we are planning the next clinical trial.”
The researchers worked alongside design and engineering teams to develop a purpose-built ultrasound device. The study was carried out at Mater Hospital Brisbane.
