Lewy body dementia accounts for 15 percent of all dementia cases yet remains significantly under-researched with limited treatment options. Many of the symptoms of Lewy body dementia are believed to be caused by the progressive loss of brain cells that produce a chemical messenger called acetylcholine. Patients experience a progressive decline in cognition and daily functioning, highlighting the urgent need for innovative therapies.
A collaboration between The Focused Ultrasound Foundation and Race Against Dementia will fund a groundbreaking research project exploring the role of non-invasive focused ultrasound in improving cognition in patients with Lewy body dementia, which includes Parkinson’s disease dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies, is a debilitating condition marked by progressive memory and attention impairment.
The project, titled, Improving cognition in Lewy body dementia using focused ultrasound, will be overseen by Dr Ashwini Oswal, Clinician Scientist Fellow at the Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, as well as Professor of Human Neurophysiology Charlotte Stagg, Sir Henry Wellcome Postdoctoral Research Fellow Polytimi Frangou, and Professor of Human Electrophysiology and Neuromodulation Huiling Tan, who will work with a team of experts from the University of Oxford and University College London. The team will leverage recent advances in non-invasive brain stimulation techniques using low-intensity focused ultrasound (LIFU) which has been shown to be safe, effective, precise, and holds the promise of improving cognition and memory.
As part of the study, 30 participants will undergo LIFU treatment. This marks the first time focused ultrasound neuromodulation will be used in a clinical trial for Lewy body dementia. Researchers will test for target engagement with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), allowing them to better understand the impact of LIFU on brain activity in patients. The collaboration also strengthens ties between the University of Oxford and University College London, enabling the research team to utilize cutting-edge infrastructure, including diagnostic, neuroimaging, and ultrasound facilities.
Race Against Dementia is a charity founded by three-time world champion racing driver Sir Jackie Stewart OBE, their mission is to fund research to find cures and preventions for dementia. This project has been funded as part of Race Against Dementia’s £4.2 million funding programme run in partnership with, medical research charity, Rosetrees. Through this programme Race Against Dementia has awarded grants of up to £750,000 to six exceptional research teams from across the UK. These teams will accelerate the search for preventions and cures for dementia, focusing on fresh ideas and disruptive approaches.