VOA健康报道2024--Alzheimer’s Drugs May Reach Brain Faster with Ultrasound Tool

Alzheimer’s Drugs May Reach Brain Faster with Ultrasound Tool

Researchers recently said a new tool that uses what is called focused ultrasound can help deliver important medicine to the brains of Alzheimer's patients.

Alzheimer's is a disease that slowly reduces the brain function of patients, causing confusion and other problems. The new delivery method helps drugs remove the brain-clogging¹ plaque² the disease is known for.

The small sound waves created by the ultrasound tool create openings in what is called the blood-brain barrier. It is the protective lining³ in blood vessels⁴ that prevents bacteria and other damaging substances from getting into the brain.

However, the barrier also prevents Alzheimer's medication from getting into the brain.

The new technique permits the medicine to get into the brain more easily and remove the plaque faster. So far, the tool has been used on only three patients. Each patient saw a faster removal of plaque than with a traditional treatment.

Dr. Ali Rezai of West Virginia University's Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute led the study. "Our goal is to give patients a head start," he said.

Some of the new Alzheimer's treatments take a long time to work, he explained. But with the ultrasound tool, the drugs move into the brain faster.

The medicine delivery requires three steps. First, doctors inject tiny bubbles into the bloodstream. Then patients put on a special head covering that permits doctors to send sound waves to an exact area of the brain. The waves vibrate the bubbles which loosen the blood-brain barrier just enough for the drug to get in.

Before Rezai's study, other researchers discovered the ultrasound technique was able to make small openings in the barrier. The openings closed up after 48 hours. Rezai's experiment showed that the technique could be used to deliver medicine.

Many of the recently approved Alzheimer's treatments take a long time to work. Patients must come for injections every few weeks for 18 months. The new treatment offers hope that patients can get results faster.

"Why not try to clear the plaques⁵ within a few months," Rezai asked when discussing the reason behind his study.

His team gave three patients a dose of the drug Aduhelm each month for six months. Right after each injection, his team aimed the focused ultrasound at part of the brain known to have the plaque build-up. As a result, more of the day's dose of the drug got through the blood-brain barrier.

The team scanned the patients' brains before and after the treatment. After six months, scans showed a 32 percent reduction in plaque in the areas that were targeted, compared to areas that were not targeted.

Dr. Eliezer Masliah of the National Institute on Aging was not involved in the research. Masliah said the trial brings some hope for Alzheimer's patients. However, he advised that larger trials are needed.

"It's very exciting ... data," he said. "It opens the door for more extensive, larger studies."

Masliah warned that one concern that must be investigated is whether the faster delivery of the drug will create side effects such as swelling⁶ and brain bleeding.

Rezai said he is about to start a new study using another Alzheimer's drug called Leqembi. He added that larger studies would be needed to see if combining focused ultrasound with Alzheimer's drugs makes a real difference for patients.

Other researchers may start studying whether the technique works for the treatment of other diseases that affect the brain, such as cancer.

Words in This Story

focus –v. concentrating or targeting a specific location, paying extra attention to something

ultrasound –n. a kind of medical procedure that creates an image of the body using sound waves

clogging –adj. a description of an area, such as a tunnel or an artery⁷, where water or fluid such as blood, cannot move freely because of a blockage⁸

plaque –n. a sticky substance that can build up on teeth or in brain tissue

bubble –n. a small, air or gas-filled sac inside a liquid

vibrate –v. to move back and forth⁹ with quick movements

dose –n. an amount of medicine or a drug given by a doctor to treat a medical problem

scan –v. to look at something carefully, often with a medical imaging device

1 clogging   

堵塞，闭合

参考例句：

• This process suffers mainly from clogging the membrane. 这种过程的主要问题是滤膜的堵塞。
• And you know that eyewitness that's been clogging up the airwaves? 你知道那个充斥着电视广播的目击证人？

2 plaque   

n.饰板，匾，(医)血小板

参考例句：

• There is a commemorative plaque to the artist in the village hall.村公所里有一块纪念该艺术家的牌匾。
• Some Latin words were engraved on the plaque. 牌匾上刻着些拉丁文。

3 lining   

n.衬里，衬料

参考例句：

• The lining of my coat is torn.我的外套衬里破了。
• Moss makes an attractive lining to wire baskets.用苔藓垫在铁丝篮里很漂亮。

4 vessels   

n.血管( vessel的名词复数 )；船；容器；（具有特殊品质或接受特殊品质的）人

参考例句：

• The river is navigable by vessels of up to 90 tons. 90 吨以下的船只可以从这条河通过。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All modern vessels of any size are fitted with radar installations. 所有现代化船只都有雷达装置。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 plaques   

（纪念性的）匾牌( plaque的名词复数 )； 纪念匾； 牙斑； 空斑

参考例句：

• Primary plaques were detectable in 16 to 20 hours. 在16到20小时内可查出原发溶斑。
• The gondoliers wore green and white livery and silver plaques on their chests. 船夫们穿着白绿两色的制服，胸前别着银质徽章。

6 swelling   

n.肿胀

参考例句：

• Use ice to reduce the swelling. 用冰敷消肿。
• There is a marked swelling of the lymph nodes. 淋巴结处有明显的肿块。

7 artery   

n.干线，要道；动脉

参考例句：

• We couldn't feel the changes in the blood pressure within the artery.我们无法感觉到动脉血管内血压的变化。
• The aorta is the largest artery in the body.主动脉是人体中的最大动脉。

8 blockage   

n.障碍物；封锁

参考例句：

• The logical treatment is to remove this blockage.合理的治疗方法就是清除堵塞物。
• If the blockage worked,they could retreat with dignity.如果封锁发生作用，他们可以体面地撤退。

9 forth   

adv.向前；向外，往外

参考例句：

• The wind moved the trees gently back and forth.风吹得树轻轻地来回摇晃。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。