Alzheimer’s disease is a tragic diagnosis for both the patient and their loved ones. Knowing that you will be deteriorating from here on in is beyond scary. Knowing that you will be losing your loved one to the ravages of this disease inch by inch cognitively and physically is absolutely devastating. Aside from Alzheimer’s prevention and as we work hard toward finding a cure, at the very least we need to figure out how to slow progression of this disease. On that front, there is some hope in ultrasound treatment improving the Alzheimer’s patient’s cognition. There is an initiative to use ultrasound for Alzheimer’s patients in Jamaica Estates. Thankfully, it has had encouraging results for improving their cognition.
Blood Brain Barrier
The blood brain barrier is what separates the brain from the rest of the body. Actually, it is meant to be an extra protection for the brain. It is an extra fence preventing bacteria that might be in other parts of the body from crossing into the brain. However, it also denies entry to drugs that may be able to help with neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s. In fact, crossing the blood brain barrier has been the subject of much research. Luckily, using the well established ultrasound technology seems to be a breakthrough and clinical trials have already started.
The Promise of Ultrasound for Alzheimer’s Patients
Ultrasound seems to be able to clear away the amyloid and tau proteins which play a key role in Alzheimer’s disease. They are what causes the clumps, plaque, and entanglements in the brain hampering cognition.
Ultrasound wave treatments given to mice with Alzheimer’s disease resulted in better performance on memory tests and less of the amyloid braid plaque that is typical of Alzheimer’s patients. Human studies have also shown that ultrasound can pry open the blood brain barrier. All this offers great hope for Alzheimer’s patients since drugs now in trial have not been successful in improving cognition.
How the Ultrasound Works
Here is the deal: Focused ultrasound energy is beamed into the hippocampus of the brain, the part referred to as the memory center. At the same time, microbubbles are injected into the bloodstream and travel through the circulatory system. As these bubbles pass the ultrasound waves, they begin to bounce around hitting the walls of the blood brain barrier. They are able to crack it open creating an opportunity to remove the beta amyloid plaques, the signature symptom of Alzheimer’s.
What is new here is that the ultrasound seems to temporarily open up the blood-brain barrier, not easily penetrated, allowing the protein albumin in to boost the work of the microglia cells that remove toxins from the brain. They seem to eat up the amyloid proteins that form the plaques on the brains of Alzheimer’s patients. After 24 hours, the opening closes.
Pros of Ultrasound Treatment
While we have come to view ultrasound as commonplace with respect to many conditions and treatments, this particular application is novel. Furthermore, there are significant advantages to this form of therapy with respect to Alzheimer’s disease.
- It targets deep into the brain in a highly focused manner with a minimum of damage to surrounding normal cells in the healthy part of the brain.
- There are no holes in the skull, no incisions, and no electrodes in the brain.
- This opening of the window to the brain can be an adjunct to any drug therapy now and in the future.
Early Stages of Trials
Various clinical trials are underway in the U.S. and Canada. They each test a different aspect of opening the blood brain barrier while using various agents to eliminate the amyloid plaques. Early results seem quite encouraging. One working theory is that ultrasound triggers an immune response. With that response and the opening of the blood brain barrier, foreign proteins can be removed from the area.
Opening New Vistas
At the moment, drugs used in treating Alzheimer’s disease can clear amyloid plaques, but have not reversed the debilitating symptoms of dementia. These cognitive deficits that wreak havoc on the sufferer’s quality of life for seniors . Encouragingly, ultrasound has the potential to open a new and exciting mode of treatment for all kinds of neurological diseases. Cracking the code here is the key. If successful, ultrasound can make current drug therapies more effective. Also, if used as a solo therapy, it can easily be much less expensive than many drugs on the market.
It’s Worth It!
As the husband of an early onset Alzheimer’s disease patient put it after his wife improved post ultrasound trial participation, “Any improvement is a victory. If it means we get to keep [loved ones] alert for a few more months, weeks, even days or hours, it’s worth it.” We must support progressing with these new initiatives regarding ultrasound for Alzheimer’s patients to stem the heartbreak of this disease.
David York Agency Homecare Helps Seniors in Jamaica Estates
David York Home Healthcare Agency is well versed in the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease in the elderly. At David York Agency, we understand the many challenges and risks faced by the aging and elderly. We are dedicated to providing the care they need to support them through all of those ups and down. At David York Home Healthcare Agency, extraordinary service is what sets us apart from other companies in Jamaica Estates that provide in home healthcare services.
DYA we could provide direction as to how to manage the total care of your senior loved one. Whatever your care needs, we are there for you, always striving to exceed your expectations. For more information about David York Agency’s qualified, compassionate caregivers, contact us at (718) 376-7755. A free phone consultation can help you determine what services would meet your needs. We aim to provide you and your loved one with the assistance they need. If you’d like to hear more from us, please like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter or LinkedIn.
For more helpful tips and information, check out our blog or contact us today.
Our home health aides and home healthcare team are adept at in home senior care. Please call us at (718) 376-7755 where a nurse is waiting to take your call.
