Treating dementia with the healing waves of sound
Ultrasound waves applied to the whole brain improve cognitive dysfunction in mice with conditions simulating vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease. The research, conducted by scientists at Tohoku University in Japan, suggests that this type of therapy may also benefit humans.
The team, led by cardiologist Hiroaki Shimokawa, found that applying low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) to the whole brain of the mice improved blood vessel formation and nerve cell regeneration without having obvious side effects.
“The LIPUS therapy is a non-invasive physiotherapy that could apply to high-risk elderly patients without the need for surgery or anaesthesia, and could be used repeatedly,” says Shimokawa.
Dementia affects about 50 million people worldwide, with 10 million new cases occurring every year. But there are currently no curative treatments available for vascular dementia or Alzheimer’s disease, the most common causes of dementia. Also, the cells lining the brain’s blood vessels are tightly packed, forming a blood-brain barrier that prevents large molecules from crossing into the brain tissue. This limits the types of drugs and cell therapies that could be made available to treat dementia.
Shimokawa and his team had conducted previous studies showing that LIPUS improved blood vessel formation in pigs with myocardial ischemia, a condition where there is reduced blood flow to the heart. Other studies have reported that LIPUS increases the production of proteins involved in nerve cell survival and growth, in addition to a role in promoting nerve regeneration. Focusing LIPUS treatment on a region in the brain called the hippocampus, which is involved in memory, has also been found to improve dementia in mice, but the details of how it does this need to be more fully investigated.
The Tohoku University team wanted to find out if whole-brain rather than focused LIPUS is effective in treating mouse models of dementia, and if it was, what was happening at the molecular levels to achieve this.
They found that cognitive impairment markedly improved in mice with conditions similar to vascular dementia and Alzheimer’s disease when LIPUS was applied to the whole brain three times a day for 20 minutes each time. The mice with vascular dementia received the treatment on the first, third and fifth days following a surgical procedure that limited the brain’s blood supply. The mice with a condition simulating Alzheimer’s disease in humans received 11 LIPUS treatments over a period of three months.
Learn more:Â Treating dementia with the healing waves of sound
The Latest on: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound
[google_news title=”” keyword=”low-intensity pulsed ultrasound” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound
- Ultrasound experiment identifies new superconductoron May 9, 2024 at 12:09 pm
The experiment establishes that recent technical developments in the Ramshaw lab make pulse-echo ultrasound, which uses sound pulses ... into a superconducting state—is relatively low, about 2 Kelvin.
- 5 signs your sperm count might be low and what to do about iton May 6, 2024 at 6:55 am
A low sperm count can make it harder to get pregnant ... Anna Ajayi Anna Ajayi is a Lifestyle Reporter at Pulse Nigeria with a flair for life and people. Reach her at [email protected] ...
- Low intensity light to fight the effects of chronic stresson May 2, 2024 at 9:48 am
The study led by the University of Barcelona reveals that the use of photobiomodulation — a technique based on the use of low-intensity laser ... of light in a pulsed — and not continuous ...
- Reduced depression risk associated with low intensity exerciseon April 30, 2024 at 5:00 pm
People who regularly participate in low to moderate intensity physical activity are less at risk of developing depression, academics have said. Scientists from Anglia Ruskin University have suggested ...
- HIFU heat and ultrasound target prostate cancer without surgeryon April 29, 2024 at 8:00 am
The procedure avoids surgery by using ultrasound waves, imaging, heat, and algorithms to destroy prostate cancer tissue with far less chance of side effects.
- The 10 Best Low-Impact Cardio Exercises, According to Trainerson April 27, 2024 at 5:00 pm
You can also increase intensity of your speed, along with the resistance to make workouts harder and stimulate muscle growth. Using an elliptical machine, along with similar low-impact workouts ...
- Low intensity exercise linked to reduced depression: Researchon April 27, 2024 at 3:30 pm
A new study discovered a strong link between low to moderate-intensity exercise and lower risks of depression. A particularly strong association was found between low and moderate physical ...
- Low-, but Not High-Intensity Exercise Linked to Reduced Depressionon April 25, 2024 at 5:00 pm
New research has found a significant association between participating in low to moderate intensity exercise and reduced rates of depression. Researchers from Anglia Ruskin University (ARU) carried ...
- HMD Touts Repairability of New Low-Cost Pulse Phoneson April 23, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Replace the battery and repair the screen, back cover, and charging port on the Pulse, Pulse+, and Pulse Pro. A non-repairable Vibe phone is also coming to the US for just $39. I’m a Mobile ...
via Bing News