Grant: Operating Grant - Priority Announcement: Aging (Bridge Funding)

With aging, the risk to develop Alzheimer's disease increases. Alzheimer's disease is characterized by deficits in brain functions, which seriously impact daily living. Brain cells are deteriorating and their capacity to survive and communicate with other parts of the brain becomes compromised, leading to deficits in critical functions such as learning and memory. Our research aims to promote general cell health by providing therapeutics that support cell survival and help in maintaining cellular integrity and plasticity, thereby assuring adequate cell-to-cell communication. We propose a novel treatment which uses ultrasound to deliver therapeutics to the brain. The area of the brain where treatment is required is identified using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Non-invasive imaging and delivery of therapeutics to the brain using ultrasound is currently being tested in pre-clinical models of Alzheimer's disease. Ultrasound technology is being developed for human applications, and it has the potential to improve the quality of life for people living with Alzheimer's disease in the future.