An individual grappling with Alzheimer’s, recognizing the absence of a cure for the disease, chose to wear a state-of-the-art million-dollar helmet. This advanced treatment involves directing nearly a thousand beams of ultrasound energy at a pinpoint target in the brain, comparable in size to a pencil point.
Dan Miller, 61, said he didn’t have anything to lose when he signed up for the experimental procedure, pioneered by Dr. Ali Rezai, a neurosurgeon. Doctors have used ultrasound for 70 years to get better views of organ and fetal development. Rezai is testing it now as a treatment tool for people with Alzheimer’s and those battling drug addiction.
“There’s no miracle cures here,” Rezai said. “It’s advancing medicine with calculated risks and pushing the frontiers.”
Miller constituted one of the three participants in Dr. Rezai’s trial at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in Morgantown, West Virginia. Dr. Rezai granted 60 Minutes the opportunity to observe his groundbreaking endeavor, employing ultrasound as a means to decelerate the cognitive deterioration experienced by individuals afflicted with Alzheimer’s disease.
Miller’s brain scan revealed the presence of red spots, indicating an accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins, commonly referred to as “brain plaque.” This plaque is believed to be a significant factor in Alzheimer’s disease as it disrupts communication between brain cells. In preparation for the experimental procedure, trial patients receive intravenous aducanumab, a medication designed to reduce these plaques. An individual grappling
The administration of aducanumab typically involves a slow process, with patients undergoing antibody infusions over one to two hours once or twice a month for an extended period, often 18 months or more. The prolonged treatment duration is attributed to the challenge posed by the blood-brain barrier, which hinders the drugs’ efficient penetration.
Dr. Rezai’s innovative approach employs focused ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier. During the trial, patients wear a specialized helmet and lie on an MRI table. Once positioned, they receive an IV solution containing microscopic bubbles. When subjected to ultrasound energy, these bubbles vibrate and effectively open the blood-brain barrier temporarily. This breakthrough method allows therapeutic drugs to swiftly reach the brain.
In a significant development, the Food and Drug Administration granted traditional approval to the Alzheimer’s drug lecanemab, also known by the brand name Leqembi, following an initial accelerated approval in January 2023.