New experimental treatments using ultrasound energy to target the brain are being tested to help people with Alzheimer's and those battling drug addiction. The pioneering neurosurgeon behind the technology spoke with 60 Minutes.
A man with Alzheimer’s, knowing there’s no cure for the disease, donned a million-dollar helmet for a cutting-edge treatment directing nearly a thousand beams of ultrasound energy at a target in his brain the size of a pencil point.
Rezai allowed 60 Minutes to witness his revolutionary attempt to use ultrasound to slow down the cognitive decline of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
When hit with ultrasound energy, the bubbles vibrate and pry open the blood-brain barrier, temporarily allowing the therapeutic drugs to quickly get inside the brain.
Rezai thought to use a similar implant in the part of the brain responsible for behavioral regulation, anxiety and cravings as a way to target addiction.
In the new trial, he and his team treat addiction by aiming hundreds of beams of ultrasound to a precise point inside the brain.
Last February, Rezai used the focused ultrasound to treat Dave Martin, who was surrounded by friends and family who used drugs his whole life.
The original article contains 1,391 words, the summary contains 161 words. Saved 88%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!
This is the best summary I could come up with:
A man with Alzheimer’s, knowing there’s no cure for the disease, donned a million-dollar helmet for a cutting-edge treatment directing nearly a thousand beams of ultrasound energy at a target in his brain the size of a pencil point.
Rezai allowed 60 Minutes to witness his revolutionary attempt to use ultrasound to slow down the cognitive decline of people with Alzheimer’s disease.
When hit with ultrasound energy, the bubbles vibrate and pry open the blood-brain barrier, temporarily allowing the therapeutic drugs to quickly get inside the brain.
Rezai thought to use a similar implant in the part of the brain responsible for behavioral regulation, anxiety and cravings as a way to target addiction.
In the new trial, he and his team treat addiction by aiming hundreds of beams of ultrasound to a precise point inside the brain.
Last February, Rezai used the focused ultrasound to treat Dave Martin, who was surrounded by friends and family who used drugs his whole life.
The original article contains 1,391 words, the summary contains 161 words. Saved 88%. I’m a bot and I’m open source!