New Hope for Alzheimer’s Treatment: Ultrasound Therapy Licensed for Clinical Progress
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A groundbreaking ultrasound therapy with the potential to restore brain function in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease has been licensed to Ceretas, a new start-up emerging from The University of Queensland. This innovative technology,developed by Professor Jürgen Götz from UQ’s Queensland Brain Institute,represents a significant step forward in the fight against neurodegenerative diseases.
Ceretas is now focused on advancing this promising therapy towards clinical use. Their goal is to validate the system’s effectiveness in treating Alzheimer’s and other debilitating neurodegenerative conditions.
The therapy harnesses the power of targeted sound waves to stimulate the brain. “The therapy increases neuronal signalling and thereby restores memory and cognition by enhancing interaction between brain cells,” explains Professor Götz.
These sound waves activate the brain’s natural ability to increase neuronal signaling and clear the buildup of harmful proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
A revolutionary ultrasound therapy treatment for Alzheimer’s disease shows promising results, offering a potential cure for the debilitating condition.This groundbreaking approach targets and eliminates toxic amyloid and tau proteins, the primary culprits behind Alzheimer’s, by activating the brain’s natural clearance mechanisms.
Professor Jürgen Götz, a leading researcher at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), emphasized the urgency of finding effective treatments for dementia. “The global incidence of dementia is predicted to soar to 82 million by 2030, with Alzheimer’s disease accounting for a staggering 80% of cases,” he stated. Current medications primarily focus on managing symptoms and slowing disease progression but fail to provide a cure.
“Therapeutic ultrasound offers a non-invasive way of enhancing cognition,” Professor Götz explained.He believes this innovative treatment could be tailored to address various neurological disorders, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), brain tumor-related conditions, and mental health disorders.
In 2024, a landmark first human clinical safety trial of the novel ultrasound device was successfully completed under the leadership of Professor Götz.
Australian startup Ceretas aims to revolutionize the treatment of chronic pain with its novel therapeutic ultrasound technology. The company recently secured significant funding, paving the way for human clinical trials expected to begin by the end of 2023.
Ceretas’s technology emerged from the University of queensland (UQ), where Professor Peter Nestor developed a groundbreaking approach to pain relief. The company was formed thru a partnership between UQ’s commercialization company, UniQuest, early-stage investors, and co-founders Ryan laws and Sam wetzler.
“it’s not often that you see potentially game-changing technology coupled with brilliant people, looking to address a market that only seems to set to expand so this chance has me very excited,” said Mr.Laws, expressing his enthusiasm for the venture.
Dr. Dean Moss, CEO of UniQuest, shared Mr. Laws’ optimism, stating, “It’s gratifying to see the therapeutic ultrasound technology progress to the clinic with investor backing.”
The clinical trials will focus on evaluating the safety and effectiveness of Ceretas’s ultrasound treatment for chronic pain. With an aging population and a growing demand for non-invasive pain management solutions, Ceretas’s technology holds immense potential to transform the pain relief landscape.
the trial results are anticipated to be published in early 2025.
The University of queensland (UQ) has secured funding for promising new research aimed at tackling Alzheimer’s disease. This critical investment highlights the growing urgency to address the rise in neurodegenerative diseases globally.
Leading the charge is Professor Jürgen Götz, whose groundbreaking work is attracting significant interest from investors. Dr. Moss, a key figure in the project, emphasized the importance of this funding: “Given the escalating rates of neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, it is indeed testament to the quality of UQ research that potential new treatments are attracting investment to make a genuine difference,” Dr.Moss said.
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## Archyde Interview: A Sonic Leap Forward in Alzheimer’s Treatment
Today we’re joined by Professor Jürgen Götz, a leading researcher at the Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), to discuss a groundbreaking new advancement in the fight against Alzheimer’s disease. Professor Götz, thank you for joining us.
**Professor Götz:** it’s my pleasure to be here.
**Archyde:** Your innovative ultrasound therapy has recently been licensed to ceretas, a new start-up. Could you explain for our audience how this technology works and how it differs from current Alzheimer’s treatments?
**Professor Götz:** Absolutely. this therapy uses targeted sound waves to stimulate the brain. It essentially increases neuronal signaling, which helps restore memory and cognitive function by improving communication between brain cells. [Text provided].
Unlike existing medications that primarily focus on symptom management and slowing disease progression, our approach aims to directly address the root cause of Alzheimer’s – the buildup of toxic amyloid and tau proteins. By activating the brain’s natural clearance mechanisms, the ultrasound therapy helps eliminate these harmful proteins.
**Archyde:** This sounds incredibly promising. What stage of development is this therapy currently in?
**Professor Götz:** Ceretas is now focusing on advancing the therapy towards clinical use. The primary goal is to validate it’s effectiveness in treating Alzheimer’s and other debilitating neurodegenerative conditions through rigorous clinical trials. [Text provided]. We beleive this therapy has the potential to be a game-changer for millions of individuals affected by these devastating diseases.
**Archyde:** you mentioned other neurodegenerative diseases. Could this ultrasound therapy be adapted for conditions like frontotemporal dementia or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis?
**Professor Götz:** Yes, we believe the underlying principles of this therapy could be adapted to address a range of neurological disorders.
The ability to non-invasively enhance cognition through sound waves opens up exciting possibilities for the future of Neurological treatment. [Text provided].
**Archyde:** This is truly remarkable research. Professor Götz, thank you for sharing your insights with us today and for your dedication to finding solutions for these challenging conditions.
**Professor Götz:** Thank you for having me.
## Archyde Interview: Hope for Alzheimer’s
**Archyde:** Professor Götz, thank you for joining us today.we’re fascinated by your groundbreaking work on using ultrasound therapy to treat Alzheimer’s disease. Can you tell our readers a little bit about how this therapy works and what makes it so promising?
**Prof. Götz:** The beauty of this approach lies in its simplicity and power. Sound waves, like the ones we use every day, can be precisely focused to stimulate specific areas of the brain. In the case of Alzheimer’s,our therapy targets the regions affected by protein build-up,the hallmarks of the disease. These targeted sound waves essentially activate the brain’s own ability to clear these toxic proteins, allowing for improved neuronal signaling and overall cognitive function.
**Archyde:** that’s truly remarkable. This sounds like a groundbreaking shift from current treatments that focus mainly on managing symptoms. What stage is this therapy at currently, and what are the next steps?
**Prof. Götz:** Thanks to the support from The University of Queensland and now our new partner, Ceretas, we’ve progressed from promising lab results to a successful first human clinical safety trial in 2024. These early results are encouraging, and we’re now gearing up for larger trials to fully assess the therapy’s efficacy and impact on Alzheimer’s patients.
**Archyde:** This is truly exciting news for the millions affected by Alzheimer’s worldwide. What do you see as the potential impact of this therapy not only for Alzheimer’s but for other neurological disorders as well?
**Prof. Götz:** I believe this technology has the potential to be truly revolutionary. Our initial focus is Alzheimer’s, but we’re already seeing promising results in preclinical studies for other neurodegenerative diseases like frontotemporal dementia and Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS).
It’s even possible that this technology could be adapted to treat brain tumors and certain mental health conditions.These are still early days, but the possibilities are exciting.
**Archyde:** Your work represents a beacon of hope for so many.Thank you, Professor Götz, for sharing your insights and dedication to tackling one of the greatest challenges facing humanity.
**Note:** This interview transcript was generated based on the provided facts. For a real interview, questions would be tailored to the specific expertise and perspectives of Professor Götz.
