Modern researchers have more varied opinions, and even less certainty than Dr. Alzheimer<\/a>.\u00a0 Potential causes theorized and under study include any one, or potential combinations of the following conditions: nutritional deficiencies, toxic (metallic) exposure, prior head injuries, infections, inflammation from disease, or that Alzheimer\u2019s may be a natural deterioration in brain functionality.<\/p>\n The execution of this theory had one big problem to overcome: The impenetrability of the blood\u2013brain barrier (BBB)<\/a>.\u00a0 This is an amazing semipermeable membrane that serves to insulate the brain from most unwanted pathogens, while allowing essential substances for brain functionality (i.e. glucose, water and amino acids) to penetrate.\u00a0 Treatments that would involve invasive surgical destruction of the integrity of the blood-brain barrier<\/a> are universally considered to be an unacceptable risk.<\/p>\n Gina Miele<\/strong> is the daughter of<\/em> Frank Miele, MSEE\u00a0<\/strong>, President of Pegasus Lectures, Inc.<\/a> and Carol Miele,<\/strong> RN, RVT, RDCS, FSVU<\/strong>, Vice President.\u00a0 She attends high school in Dallas, Texas as a Junior at The Hockaday School<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n *** A Special \u2018Thank You<\/strong>\u2018 to\u00a0Focused Ultrasound Foundation<\/a> for use of images, statistical and industry research.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NEW PARADIGMS FOR ULTRASOUND: ALZHEIMER\u2019S DISEASE Last month, I wrote a guest-blog based on my learning experience attending a program studying neuropsychiatry at Harvard last summer.\u00a0 Thank you for the kind words of encouragement and support many of you have … Continue reading ![\"alzheimers-6\"](\"http:\/\/test.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/alzheimers-6.png\")
<\/a>Because, for me, ultrasound science is \u2018the family business<\/a>\u2019 I had a natural desire to understand more about emerging technologies and applications<\/a> in the field of medicine.\u00a0 One area, in particular, that piqued my interest was the potential use of focused ultrasound therapy to improve the lives of patients with Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a>.\u00a0 Admittedly, my interest was in large part personal as my grandfather suffers from this affliction. \u00a0I am fortunate that my grandparents live with us for six months of the year which allows me and my siblings to spend valuable time with them, but it has also brought to the forefront how devastating this cognitive decline can be.<\/p>\n![\"alzheimers-5\"](\"http:\/\/test.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/alzheimers-5.png\")
<\/a>Research into possible treatment or a \u2018cure\u2019 for Alzheimer\u2019s disease is hampered by a lack of certainty understanding the actual cause of the disease.\u00a0 The scientist for whom the disease is named<\/a>, early 20th<\/sup> century German psychiatrist Dr. Aloysius Alzheimer<\/a>, believed its cause to be intimately related to brain anomalies, described then as \u2018senile plaques<\/a>\u2019, which he identified during autopsy of his affected patient, Mrs. Auguste Deter<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"alzheimers-1\"](\"http:\/\/test.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/alzheimers-1.png\")
<\/a>Still, the prevalence of these senile plaques strongly correlates to the onset of Alzheimer\u2019s symptoms<\/a>, and many researchers theorize these plaques as being triggered by deposits of beta amyloid<\/a>.\u00a0 Using that premise as a starting point, medical researchers hoped that if there were a way to dissolve or dissipate amyloid plaques within living brain tissue, it might result in a reversal of progressive Alzheimer\u2019s disease.<\/p>\n![\"alzheimers-3\"](\"http:\/\/test.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/alzheimers-3.png\")
<\/a>However, as previously referenced, the transformative paradigm of ultrasound<\/a> treatment versus invasive medical procedures rests in the ability of sound waves to penetrate membrane without damaging its physiological integrity.\u00a0 Based on this premise, researchers at the University of Queensland (Australia) in 2015<\/a> pioneered the use of ultrasound waves to dissipate (interior) beta amyloid deposits and flush them outward through the BBB in the brains of mice, while maintaining the membrane\u2019s integrity.\u00a0 The initial research seemingly showed some degree of reversal<\/a> in the cognitive degeneration associated with Alzheimer\u2019s disease.\u00a0 While actual treatments may be on the distant horizon, Phase 1 clinical trials have begun and Phase 2 trials on human subjects have been green-lighted<\/a> for this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n![\"alzheimers-2\"](\"http:\/\/test.pegasuslectures.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/03\/alzheimers-2.png\")
<\/a>Another area of research is the potential of focused ultrasound to augment the delivery of therapeutic drugs<\/a> or antibodies across the BBB.\u00a0 Focused ultrasound allows for more precise targeting of delivery, minimizing damage to healthy, non-targeted brain tissue. Although these treatments will not be realized for my grandfather, I follow the progress of clinical trials with great interest as the reality that this disease may impact other family members is real.<\/p>\n