A gentleman diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, acknowledging the absence of a cure for the ailment, opted for an innovative treatment approach involving a million-dollar helmet.
This groundbreaking procedure entails directing nearly a thousand beams of ultrasound energy at a specific target in his brain, equivalent in size to a pencil point.
At 61 years old, Dan Miller willingly participated in Dr. Ali Rezai’s experimental treatment.
Despite ultrasound traditionally aiding organ and fetal visualization for 70 years, Dr. Rezai is now exploring its therapeutic potential for those with Alzheimer’s and individuals battling substance addiction.
Unlocking Alzheimer’s with Ultrasound
Miller was among three participants in Dr. Rezai’s clinical trial at the Rockefeller Neuroscience Institute in Morgantown, West Virginia. Dr. Rezai, allowing 60 Minutes to observe, pioneered the use of ultrasound to address cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s disease.
Miller’s brain scan revealed red spots, indicating an accumulation of beta-amyloid proteins, known as “brain plaque,” significant in disrupting brain cell communication in Alzheimer’s patients. Before the experimental intervention, participants received intravenous aducanumab to reduce these plaques.
Dr. Rezai explained that the standard aducanumab administration is gradual, involving one or two-hour antibody infusions once or twice a month for an extended period, often spanning 18 months or more due to the challenge of these drugs crossing the blood-brain barrier.
Ultrasound’s Potential in Treating Drug Addictions
Dr. Rezai aimed to enhance treatment efficiency by leveraging ultrasound technology in addressing brain disorders.
In contrast to traditional craniotomy, this method eliminates skin incisions and skull openings, constituting a form of brain surgery without cutting the skin.
In the recent trial, Dr. Rezai and his team employed targeted ultrasound beams to address addiction, specifically focusing on the nucleus accumbens, the brain’s reward center.
By delivering ultrasound waves to this area, they observed the real-time changes in cravings and anxiety during the procedure.
In February of the previous year, Dr. Rezai utilized focused ultrasound to treat Dave Martin, who had a lifetime exposure to a social environment marked by friends and family with a history of substance abuse.
Martin, who began using drugs at age 7 and continued for 37 years, has experienced significant positive changes in his life following the ultrasound intervention.
According to Dr. Rezai’s research team, Martin admitted to taking a single pain-killing pill at a December gathering.
However, out of the 15 patients enrolled in the clinical trials incorporating ultrasound, 10 have successfully sustained complete abstinence from drug use.