Optimizing transcranial focused ultrasound for modulating cognitive, affective, and motor and symptoms in neurodegenerative disease

Abstract

Abstract Pulsed transcranial focused ultrasound (tFUS) offers many advantages of other non-invasive neuromodulation technologies. However, to date, there are few studies in humans demonstrating changes in MRI and behavioral outcomes. Further, the optimization of these metrics for specific brain targets and the neuropsychological constructs they mediate is limited. Our group has completed a double-blind, cross over study in healthy humans demonstrating brain target-specific changes in perfusion, functional connectivity and behavior. Using this study as a foundation, our group further conducted a parameter optimization study to determine appropriate tFUS parameters for engagement of medial temporal lobe memory structures with associated memory effects. Thereafter, we began a study using these parameters in participants with diagnoses of amnestic mild cognitive impairment. Further, our group is conducting a double-blind, sham-controlled study on tFUS in participants with diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease, assessing MRI, behavioral, and motor effects. In this symposium talk, we will review these findings and the opportunities and limitations they suggest for the field of tFUS and the future of tFUS as a potential clinical neuromodulation tool. Research Category and Technology and Methods Translational Research: 6. Pulsed Ultrasound (pUS) Keywords: Ultrasound, Memory, Anxiety, MRI