Non-invasive ultrasound restores memory in Alzheimer's mice

A potential method of treating Alzheimer's disease using ultrasound is being hailed as a "breakthrough."

A team of researchers at the University of Queensland's Queensland Brain Institute Clem Jones Centre for Ageing Dementia Research have successfully restored memory function in mice using the drug-free, non-invasive technology to break down the neurotoxic amyloid plaques that cause memory loss and loss of cognitive function.

"We're extremely excited by this innovation of treating Alzheimer's without using drug therapeutics," said CJCADR director Professor Jürgen Götz.

"The word 'breakthrough' is often misused, but in this case I think this really does fundamentally change our understanding of how to treat this disease, and I foresee a great future for this approach."

To test the treatment, first the team deposited amyloid-? into the brains of the test mice -- the peptide that has been implicated with effecting Alzheimer's dementia. This creates a mouse model of the disease that can be used to test treatments.

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