Pondering Ultrasound Treatments for Neuromodulation and Brain Disorders with Jurgen Götz

Most people are familiar with the ultrasound imaging used to visualize in the body such as muscles and tendons, organs, and developing fetuses in the mother’s womb.  The sound/pressure waves generated by ultrasound are also used in physical therapy and the disruption of kidney stones. In this episode I talk with Professor Jurgen Götz at the University of Queensland about how ultrasound can affect neuronal network activity in the brain and can also be used to enhance the delivery into the brain of large molecules such as antibodies and neurotrophic factors.  Much of our discussion revolves around the potential use of ultrasound in Alzheimer’s disease. 

LINKS:

Professor Götz’ lab page: https://qbi.uq.edu.au/profile/1513/j%C3%BCrgen-goetz

Review article on ultrasound: https://www-sciencedirect-com.proxy1.library.jhu.edu/science/article/pii/S0896627323001228

Preclinical studies of ultrasound therapy for memory enhancement and Alzheimer’s disease:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9221310/

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8760044/pdf/41380_2021_Article_1129.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5405237/