Ultrasound slows down brain aging
Earlier, Australian researchers from the University of Queensland, working under the guidance of Professor Jurgen Gotz, demonstrated that exposure to ultrasound radiation, traditionally used for diagnostic procedures, reverses the development of Alzheimer's disease in a mouse model. However, the results of their latest work suggest that this manipulation is also able to slow down the aging of a healthy brain.
Initially, this work was planned as a safety study of the method, but it soon became clear that, not to mention the absence of any harm to the brain, ultrasound radiation has a positive effect on the health of this organ, preventing degeneration of its cells.
As part of the study, 4-month-old mice were subjected to one or six sessions of ultrasound radiation for six weeks. The structure and functions of their brains were evaluated two hours, one day, a week and three months after exposure.
These examinations have shown that ultrasound exposure prevents the development of age-related changes in the structure of a healthy animal brain. Currently, the authors are conducting experiments aimed at elucidating the potential positive effect of this effect on the ability to learn and memorize, which is characterized by pronounced age-related decline.
At the next stage of the work, the authors plan to analyze the effect of ultrasound radiation on the structure and functions of the brain of older animals.
They note that this effect makes it possible to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier, which ensures the activation of mechanisms that destroy protein aggregates in brain tissue and restore its functions.
According to the authors, in general, this approach completely changes the views not only on the therapy of Alzheimer's disease, but also on maintaining brain health.
Article by Robert John Hatch et al. Scanning Ultrasound (SUS) Causes No Changes to Neuronal Excitability and Prevents Age-Related Reductions in Hippocampal CA1 Dendritic Structure in Wild-Type Mice published in the journal PloS One.
Evgeniya Ryabtseva
Portal "Eternal youth" http://vechnayamolodost.ru
14.10.2016