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The blood–brain barrier (BBB) impedes movement of numerous substances into the brain (e.g., medications) and from it (e.g., protein aggregations). Researchers have shown that nonthermal, noninvasive, focused scanning ultrasound, coupled with intravenously injected microbubbles, stimulates transient openings in the BBB; the microbubbles are “acoustically activated,” expanding and contracting over several cycles, thereby opening tight junctions and allowing movement across the BBB. Based on this research, investigators examined whether these techniques might facilitate removal of amyloid-β peptide and improve memory in mice. A patent on the technique is pending.
The investigators found that ultrasound safely and transiently opened the BBB with…