抖M女仆, Delray Medical Center, Insightec Team Up on Groundbreaking Study
Lloyd Zucker, M.D., a board-certified neurosurgeon and medical director of neurosurgery (left); and Hermes Kamimura, at Delray Medical Center treating the first patient with Insightec鈥檚 non-invasive focused ultrasound technology. (Photo credit: Delray Medical Center)
Delray Medical Center is the first hospital in Florida to treat an Alzheimer鈥檚 disease patient using non-invasive focused ultrasound technology as part of a groundbreaking study being conducted in collaboration with 抖M女仆鈥檚 Institute for Human Health and Disease Intervention (I-Health).
In the FDA-approved clinical trial, focused ultrasound technology is used to disrupt the blood-brain barrier in participating Alzheimer鈥檚 patients. Alzheimer鈥檚 may be caused by a buildup of certain proteins in the brain. Precisely guided by magnetic-resonance imaging, ultrasound waves are directed at specific areas of the patient鈥檚 brain to create a temporary opening in the blood-brain barrier where the protein buildup may be reduced. The Delray Medical Center patient enrolled in the clinical trial received the first of three treatments at the hospital on Feb. 15.
鈥淒elray Medical Center is proud and excited to be a leader in this effort to determine the safety and efficacy of this potentially revolutionary treatment for Alzheimer鈥檚 patients,鈥 said Lloyd Zucker, M.D., FAANS, a board-certified neurosurgeon and medical director of neurosurgery at Delray Medical Center. 鈥淭he study will help determine whether the use of this non-invasive focused ultrasound technology can lead to cognitive improvement in patients with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease.鈥
An estimated 6.5 million Americans ages 65 and older are living with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease, which is the sixth leading cause of death for those age 65 and above in the U.S., according to the Alzheimer鈥檚 Association. Florida has the second highest incidence of Alzheimer鈥檚 in the country, with an estimated 580,000 cases.聽
鈥淏y establishing the Florida Alzheimer鈥檚 Center of Excellence last year, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has placed Alzheimer鈥檚 disease as a priority health issue in Florida, which will benefit the more than 580,000 people now living with Alzheimer鈥檚 as well as their families,鈥 said 抖M女仆 President Stacy Volnick. 鈥淲e are excited to collaborate with Delray Medical Center, Insightec and others on this groundbreaking technology that will create the next generation of patient care for Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and other neurodegenerative disorders.鈥
贵础鲍鈥檚 Gregg Fields, Ph.D., executive director of I-Health and a professor of chemistry and biochemistry in 贵础鲍鈥檚 Charles E. Schmidt College of Science, is the program director for the project.
鈥淒rug passage through the blood-brain barrier is perhaps one of the greatest challenges in neurology,鈥 said Fields. 鈥淭he treatment of the first patient in Florida with the non-invasive focused ultrasound technology represents a significant advancement for potential drug delivery and treatment of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and other neurological disorders. In tandem, we are also working on non-invasive, blood-based monitoring to determine if treatments are effective.鈥
The clinical trial, called聽, is designed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of Insightec鈥檚 ExAblate Model 4000 Type 2.0 System as a tool for disrupting the blood-brain barrier in probable Alzheimer鈥檚 patients.
鈥淚nsightec is committed to working with our partners to help drive innovation,鈥 said Maurice Ferre, M.D., chairman and CEO from Insightec. 鈥淏y providing our medical technologies to hospitals and universities across the state of Florida, we are building a cross-sector network with advanced capabilities to accelerate research for potential treatment solutions for brain diseases.鈥
The study, part of Florida鈥檚 Brain State initiative, is being conducted at up to eight sites in the country. Patients who meet the specific study criteria receive three focused ultrasound treatments, two weeks apart, and will be followed for five years after the final procedure.
鈥淭oday marks a historic milestone in the fight against Alzheimer's as we begin trials in Florida using Insightec鈥檚 cutting-edge focused ultrasound technology,鈥 said Jonathan Weiss, chairman of the Alzheimer鈥檚 Disease Advisory Committee and vice president of strategic innovation at Insightec.聽 鈥淭hanks to Gov. DeSantis' visionary leadership, the Florida legislature鈥檚 support, and the unprecedented partnership between Florida's academic powerhouses, health systems and private industry, we are proud to launch this pioneering research program aimed at treating and ultimately finding a cure for Alzheimer's. This achievement signals a new era in medical research, offering hope to millions of patients and families affected by this devastating disease.鈥
The Insightec technology has already been shown to be effective in treating patients with Parkinson鈥檚 disease and essential tremor, a neurological disorder that causes involuntary trembling of the head and hands, preventing people with the condition from performing simple tasks, such as drinking from a glass or tying shoelaces.
鈥淚 have spent a great deal of my career working and hoping for advancements in Alzheimer鈥檚 research, so I am incredibly excited for what this means for the hundreds of thousands of Floridians living with Alzheimer鈥檚 and their caregivers,鈥 said Michelle Branham, Department of Elder Affairs secretary. 鈥淥ur governor has been a steadfast supporter of the Brain State program and continues to champion Alzheimer鈥檚 initiatives and increasing budget recommendations to ensure Florida remains a leader in research, support and treatment. This successful treatment is a historical and pivotal moment for our state and its commitment to a fortified structure to support Alzheimer鈥檚 and other dementias. I am very proud to be a partner in the Brain State Program.鈥
To find out more about Delray Medical Center鈥檚 focused ultrasound program, visit .
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