A domestic research team has succeeded in removing the causative substances of Alzheimer's disease using ultrasound.
Alzheimer's disease occurs when a protein called 'amyloid beta' accumulates excessively in the brain. This protein has a tendency to stick together, and when it hardens and accumulates, it disrupts the signaling of nerve cells or even kills the cells themselves.
The clumps that stick together are called 'amyloid plaques', and among them, the 'fibrillar structure' where the protein is tightly entangled like a thread or the 'oligomer form' which shows the strongest neurotoxicity are difficult to decompose and have poor prognosis.
In this regard, a team led by Professor Kim Jae-ho of Hallym University Dongtan Sacred Heart Hospital announced on the 23rd the results of their research on the removal of amyloid plaques in experimental mouse models using only the mechanical energy of ultrasound without drug administration. This research was jointly conducted by Dr. Kim Hyung-min of the Korea Institute of Science and Technology (KIST) Bionics Research Center and Professor Kim Young-soo of Yonsei University College of Pharmacy.
The research team focused on a method that physically breaks the bonds of amyloid plaques by concentrating the vibrational energy of ultrasound on specific areas of the brain. Preliminary verification through in vitro experiments showed that ultrasound could remove amyloid fibrillar structures by up to 62% and oligomer forms by up to 65%.
After applying the ultrasound removal method to experimental mice with Alzheimer's disease, the number and size of amyloid plaques in the brain were significantly reduced. In particular, the concentration of amyloid in the blood of the mice increased by about 66% after treatment, which the research team stated is evidence that the amyloid decomposed in the brain was expelled through the bloodstream.
This effect was similarly observed in 'human-derived neural stem cell lines', which have biological characteristics very similar to human nerve cells. When general amyloid aggregates were administered to these cell lines, the cell death rate was 18%, whereas when aggregates treated with ultrasound were administered, the death rate dropped to 10%. This indicates that ultrasound not only physically crushed the protein clumps but also alleviated their toxicity.
The results of this study are receiving great expectations as they could serve as an alternative to the latest dementia antibody treatments, which have recently raised concerns about side effects. Current treatments such as 'lecanemab' and 'donanemab' work by attaching immune cells to amyloid beta for removal. While their therapeutic effects have been proven, they have been criticized for their high costs and the potential for serious side effects such as brain edema and hemorrhage.
Professor Kim Jae-ho stated, "The technology we have proven this time can be applied as a key technology for the treatment of various degenerative brain diseases," and added, "We will devote ourselves to research to provide practical hope to suffering patients and their families."
The results of this study are scheduled to be published in the international journal 《Theranostics》 in January next year. The research team has also been recognized for the excellence of this research and will be listed among the 'People Who Brighten Korea' selected by the Biological Research Information Center (BRIC).
