Sound waves may help Alzheimer's drugs reach the brain
NCT ID NCT03739905
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study tested a device that uses focused ultrasound to temporarily open the blood-brain barrier in 35 people with Alzheimer's disease. The goal was to see if this procedure is safe and could help treatments reach the brain more effectively. Participants were between 50 and 85 years old and had probable Alzheimer's.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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35 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Dec 2018
- Finished
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Apr 2025
- Lead sponsor
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A company
The lead sponsor is a pharmaceutical, biotech, or medical-device company.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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50 to 85 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 1. Male or Female between 50-85 years of age 2. Probable Alzheimer's Disease (AD) 3. If taking concurrent Alzheimer's medication, has been on the medication for at least 2 months with a stable dose for at least 3 months 4. Able to communicate sensations during the ExAblate MRgFUS procedure 5. Ambulatory Exclusion Criteria: 1. MRI Findings 2. Presence of unknown or MR unsafe devices anywhere in the body 3. Significant cardiac disease or unstable hemodynamic status 4. Relative contraindications to ultrasound contrast agent or PET amyloid tracer 5. History of a bleeding disorder 6. History of liver disease 7. Known cerebral or systemic vasculopathy 8. Significant depression and at potential risk of suicide 9. Any contraindications to MRI scanning 10. Any contraindication to lumbar puncture for collection of cerebral spinal fluid 11. Untreated, uncontrolled sleep apnea 12. History of seizure disorder or epilepsy 13. Severely Impaired renal function 14. Currently in a clinical trial involving an investigational product or non-approved use of a drug or device or in any other type of medical research 15. Chronic pulmonary disorders 16. Positive human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) 17. Known apolipoprotein E allele (ApoE4) homozygosity
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Division of Neurosurgery, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre
Toronto, Ontario, M4N 3M5, Canada
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