Focused Ultrasound Blood-Brain Barrier Opening for Targeted Therapeutics in Neurodegenerative Diseases

Therapeutic focused ultrasound (FUS) leverages noninvasive ultrasonic waves to modify biological tissues. When administered alongside intravenous microbubbles, low-intensity FUS enables transient, targeted disruption of the blood-brain barrier (BBB), thereby permitting the passage of systemically administered therapeutics into the central nervous system (CNS) with high spatial precision. The ability to selectively modulate BBB permeability at the disease site has the potential to substantially expand the number of therapeutics that can be utilized in treating illnesses that afflict the CNS. Herein, we review the current applications of FUS for treating neurodegenerative disorders and diseases, including Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. We discuss the research developments to date and future directions.