Alzheimer’s disease: Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) with the NEUROLITH system significantly improves brain performance of patients

In 2018, Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS®) with the NEUROLITH® system was the first, and hitherto only, procedure of its kind to obtain market authorization for the »treatment of the central nervous system of patients with Alzheimer’s disease«. TPS^_® was developed by STORZ MEDICAL in collaboration with a team of researchers from the Medical University of Vienna (Department of Neurology), led by Professor Roland Beisteiner, and Dr. Henning Lohse-Busch, Rheintalklinik, Bad Krozingen. In December 2019, the prestigious journal »Advanced Science« published a study, in which Beisteiner et al. evaluate the method and present first treatment results. The presented data shows that it is possible to improve brain performance with TPS® and that there is a long-term effect.

Significant CERAD score improvements and long-term effect
The authors describe TPS® as a new therapy approach. With TPS® it is possible to reach all areas of the brain with TPS® and activate neurons, which can help to regenerate brain functions. As a result, the memory network is boosted, and memory performance improves.

The presented data documents the positive effects of TPS®: In the multicentre pilot study with 35 patients, the CERAD score improved significantly after treatment and remained stable over three months, which indicates a long-term effect. The patients tolerated the treatment well and there were no relevant side effects.

TPS® has great potential
The authors conclude that TPS® represents a promising new therapy option that allows targeted stimulation of cerebral regions. According to a press release of the Medical University of Vienna from 7 January 2020, clinical neuroscientists expect a breakthrough in the treatment of brain diseases if the results of the pilot study are confirmed. Further scientific studies are required to evaluate the stimulation effects.

Sources:
1) Beisteiner, R. et al.: Transcranial Pulse Stimulation with Ultrasound in Alzheimer’s Disease – A New Navigated Focal Brain Therapy, Adv. Sci. [online ahead of print], DOI: 10.1002/advs.201902583, 2019
Link to full paper: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/advs.201902583
2) Press release of the Medical University of Vienna from 7 January 2020: https://www.meduniwien.ac.at/web/en/about-us/news/detailsite/2020/news-im-jaenner-2020/alzheimers-new-ultrasound-technique-significantly-improves-brain-performance/

Further information on the new NEUROLITH® system is available on our website.