Application of Focused Ultrasound in Alzheimer's Disease: A Bibliometric Analysis

This study uses bibliometric analysis and knowledge mapping methods to systematically explore the emerging research frontiers and development trajectories of focused ultrasound (FUS) technology in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD), and provides new clues and research directions for future research by exploring hotspots and new topics.

A comprehensive literature search was conducted through the Science Citation Index Expanded Core Collection (WoSCC) database to identify relevant articles and reviews published between January 2014 and 2025 on the application of FUS technology in AD. For data analysis and visualization, we used VOSviewer software, CiteSpace, and the R package "bibliometrix" to conduct rigorous bibliometric analysis and build knowledge domain maps.

A total of 1531 papers involving 9220 contributors were identified between 2014 and 2025. The field demonstrated consistent growth (R2=0.9272), peaking in 2025 with 225 publications. China led in total output (475 papers), while the United States achieved the highest academic impact (12,965 citations, H-index: 56). The Chinese Academy of Sciences was the most prolific institution, whereas Harvard Medical School recorded the highest citation impact. The Journal of Alzheimer's Disease and Scientific Reports emerged as the leading publication venues, while Theranostics and Alzheimer's & Dementia provided high-prestige platforms. Tianfu Wang and Baiying Lei were the most productive authors, though Isabelle Aubert garnered the highest total citations. International collaboration analysis revealed a robust, multi-centric network anchored by the USA, China, Canada, and Italy. Co-citation analysis identified Leinenga G (2015) as the foundational study for ultrasound-mediated amyloid-beta clearance. Lipsman N (2018) marked a critical clinical inflection point, exhibiting a strong citation burst (17.3) that catalyzed a shift from preclinical models to human safety trials. Recent bursts extending into 2025 focus on multicenter clinical validation and long-term efficacy. Keywords analysis confirms that non-invasive blood-brain barrier (BBB) opening via microbubble-enhanced focused ultrasound (FUS) is the central research paradigm. Emerging frontiers have shifted from basic technical validation toward neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, tau pathology, and deep-learning-assisted diagnostics, reflecting an evolving focus on molecular mechanisms and precision neurosurgery.

Focused ultrasound technology has made significant progress in the field of Alzheimer's disease research and has become a research frontier with considerable therapeutic potential. With ongoing technological progress, the clinical translation of FUS is expected to bring new breakthroughs in AD treatment.