A cure for Alzheimer’s? Trial study underway at Broward Health


A light microscope micrograph of senile plaque. [Courtesy]

By Martin Lenkowsky | New Pelican Writer

A new study underway at Broward Health could revolutionize the way Alzheimer’s disease is treated.

Alzheimer’s is caused by a buildup of plaque (proteins) in the brain and Broward Health, in a partnership with University of Florida Health, and Insightec, is testing MRI-guided focused ultrasound to temporarily create an opening in the blood-brain barrier. This opening would allow plaque to clear out of the brain. While there is no known cure for the disease, Broward Health neurosurgeon Shaye Moskowitz is hopeful this medical innovation will be able to control the disease process earlier.

Moskowitz says potential patients are screened carefully for the trial. “This study utilizes folks with the right clinical picture,” he said.

Volunteers are screened and evaluated for Alzheimer’s. “There is no perfect study to tell if you have Alzheimer’s,” Moskowitz said. “You can only really confirm with an autopsy. You can’t wait until there’s clinical evidence of Alzheimer’s. Scans showing plaque are helpful and can add to the diagnosis.”

Moskowitz says they look at the entire clinical picture to see if cognitive decline is present. “You rule out tumors and other problems,” he said. “We take folks with a high likelihood [of Alzheimer’s] with consistent imaging.”

Moskowitz adds they’re still looking for volunteers whose disease process hasn’t advanced that far as yet. He says 60 potential Alzheimer’s patients have volunteered for the trial, however; the requirements are stringent and only one individual has been accepted.

The clinical trial site at Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale. [Broward Health]

“We need folks not too far advanced,” says Moskowitz. “They need to be stable on their meds.”

He adds many people do not meet the stringent criteria because of other underlying medical conditions. “You make sure you want to pick the right person.”

Moskowitz says the procedure – which is not invasive – utilizes an MRI scan which targets where in the brain they want to treat. “We treat those spots up to an hour, an hour-and-a-half,” he says. 

A total of three treatments are required, with patients being closely followed for five years. Moskowitz describes the treatment as “like opening up a screen door. After several hours it closes up on its own.” He adds that following the procedure, imaging is done to make sure it’s closed up.

Broward Health is just one of a few select facilities taking part in the trial.

Broward Health North Memory Disorder Center Coordinator Antoinette Buckham-Charles is familiar with the trial program as some of the potential volunteers were initially screened at the North Broward clinic. She said once an individual is screened at their facility, more detailed diagnostic and clinical studies are performed at Broward Health in Fort Lauderdale for further evaluation. “We recommended 20 volunteers already,” she said.

Buckham-Charles says the Memory Disorder Center itself is not limited to Alzheimer’s patients. Those suffering from other impairments leading to memory deficits including strokes, Parkinson’s, and brain tumors have also come for treatment. 

Goals are set for patients in order to make them better able to function. “People think once you have dementia, that’s the end of it,” Buckham-Charles said. 

The North Broward facility treats patients with Alzheimer’s and related types of dementia using a personalized, multidisciplinary approach. Their staff includes neurologists, neuropsychologists, social workers, and nurses. Diagnostic evaluations and neurocognitive testing is done in order to diagnose the cause of the memory dysfunction. Individualized treatment plans are then set up for patients and their caregivers to deal with the challenges of this progressive disease.

Getting a patient’s family – who are usually the caregivers – involved is crucial, says Buckham-Charles. “With Alzheimer’s and dementia, it’s a different world. We’re here to alleviate some of the stressors,” she says, adding these diseases often lead to conflict.

Alzheimer’s can cause depression as well as behavioral and personality changes presenting additional challenges to patients and their families. Buckham-Charles says the memory center offers a free Care Assistance Program (CAP) for Alzheimer’s victims’ families which includes counseling, education, community referrals and in-person support groups. Both day and evening CAP are available, said Buckham-Charles. “It’s a very good program,” she says. “It teaches caregivers about the disease and what they’re facing and what they need to prepare themselves for.”

Moskowitz says those looking to partake in the trial can speak to their doctors. Neurologists as well as primary care physicians have made referrals. “Also people have called on their own,” he said, adding those interested should call the Broward Health Research and Neurology Institute at 954-355-5563. For more information about the Broward Health North Memory Center, visit browardhealth.org/memoryloss or call 954-786-7392.

2 responses to “A cure for Alzheimer’s? Trial study underway at Broward Health”

  1. marie Jakob says:

    My husband was diagnosed of Parkinsons disease 2 years ago, when he was 49. He had a stooped posture, tremors, right arm does not move and also a pulsating feeling in his body. He was placed on Senemet for 8 months and then Siferol was introduced and replaced the Senemet, during this time span he was also diagnosed with dementia. He started having hallucinations, lost touch with reality. Suspecting it was the medication I took him off the Siferol (with the doctor’s knowledge) and started him on PD natural herbal formula we ordered from Health Care HERBAL CENTRE, his symptoms totally declined over a 3 weeks use of the Health Care HERBAL Parkinsons disease natural herbal formula. He is now almost 51 and doing very well, the disease is totally reversed! (Visit www.healthcareherbalcentre.com)

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