Neuromodulatory Impact of Low-Intensity Focused Ultrasound on Early Cognitive Decline
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.61919/pfm2z844Keywords:
Attention; Cognitive Dysfunction; Double-Blind Method; Functional Connectivity; Memory; Mild Neurocognitive Disorder; Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation; Randomized Controlled Trial; Ultrasonic Waves.Abstract
Background: A mild neurocognitive disorder causes problems with memory, attention and thinking skills.. There are not many good ways to treat this that do not need surgery. Objective: To see how active low-intensity focused ultrasound and fake ultrasound affect memory, attention and brain connections in people with neurocognitive disorder. Methods: This study had 76 people, aged 55 to 80. They were split into two groups. One group got ultrasound that targeted parts of the brain related to thinking and memory. The other group got a treatment. They tested the brain functions of the people before the treatment one week after and two months after. Sixty-eight people finished the study. Results: One week after the treatment people who got ultrasound had better memory than those who got the fake treatment. The difference was still there two months later. People who got ultrasound also did better on a test of attention. Their brain connections between the part of the brain and the hippocampus were stronger, than those who got the fake treatment. No serious problems happened. low-intensity focused ultrasound seems to help with memory and attention and makes brain connections stronger.. More studies are needed to be sure
References
1. Liu Y, Liu S, Tang C, Tang K, Liu D, Chen M, et al. Transcranial alternating current stimulation combined with sound stimulation improves cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s disease: study protocol for a randomized controlled trial. 2023;14:1068175.
2. Fuh JL, Wang SJ, Wang PN, Wu HM, Su WS, Lin HM, et al. Safety and efficacy of transcranial ultrasound stimulation for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. 2025:107844.
3. Wang Y, Liu W, Chen J, Bai J, Yu H, Ma H, et al. Comparative efficacy of different noninvasive brain stimulation therapies for recovery of global cognitive function, attention, memory, and executive function after stroke: a network meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. 2023;14:20406223231168754.
4. Desarkar P, Vicario CM, Soltanlou M. Non-invasive brain stimulation in research and therapy. 2024;14(1):29334.
5. Koch G, Altomare D, Benussi A, Bréchet L, Casula EP, Dodich A, et al. The emerging field of non-invasive brain stimulation in Alzheimer’s disease. Brain. 2024;147(12):4003-16.
6. Xiong X, Zhong C, Zhang T, Xie X, Hao J, Zheng Y, et al. Clinical study of wearable low-intensity pulsed ultrasound treatment in the improvement of executive function in obesity—the SLITE trial: protocol for a single-centre, double-blind, randomized controlled trial. 2025;19:1698351.
7. Matt E, Mitterwallner M, Radjenovic S, Grigoryeva D, Weber A, Stögmann E, et al. Ultrasound neuromodulation with transcranial pulse stimulation in Alzheimer disease: a randomized clinical trial. 2025;8(2):e2459170.
8. Shinzato GT, Assone T, Sandler PC, Pacheco-Barrios K, Fregni F, Radanovic M, et al. Non-invasive sound-wave brain stimulation with transcranial pulse stimulation improves neuropsychiatric symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease. 2024;17(2):413-5.
9. Chen R, Huang L, Wang R, Fei J, Wang H, Wang J. Advances in non-invasive neuromodulation techniques for improving cognitive function: a review. 2024;14(4):354.
10. Alam J, Bhattacharjee S, Chakraborty S, Rahman SZ, Hasan A, Haseen MA, et al. Neuromodulation via brain stimulation: a promising therapeutic perspective for Alzheimer’s disease. In: Artificial Intelligence in Biomedical and Modern Healthcare Informatics. Elsevier; 2025. p. 257-66.
11. Tang M, Guo JJ, Guo RX, Xu SJ, Lou Q, Hu QX, et al. Progress of research and application of non-pharmacologic intervention in Alzheimer’s disease. 2024;102(2):275-94.
12. Jeong H, Kim D, Na S, Kim B, Oh JK, Choi EK, et al. Repeated neuromodulation with low-intensity focused ultrasound in patients with Alzheimer’s disease. 2025;105(3):955-65.
13. Xia S, He C, Li Y, Li H, Wang B, Xu L, et al. Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound neuromodulation promotes neuronal regeneration: a new hope for noninvasive treatment of neurodegenerative diseases. 2026;21(6):2300-12.
14. Carrarini C, Pappalettera C, Le Pera D, Rossini PM. Non-invasive brain stimulation in cognitive sciences and Alzheimer’s disease. Front Hum Neurosci. 2025;18:1500502.
15. Zhang T, Lu Q, Song J, Dong M, He C, Zhu Z, et al. Enhanced episodic memory and LTP-like plasticity in subjective cognitive decline following 10-Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation. 2025;22(1):197.
16. Gann M, Orban de Xivry JJ, Albouy G. Modulating motor memory processes with non-invasive brain stimulation: a multimodal neuroimaging investigation. 2021.
17. Gurrieri R, Gambini M, Russomanno G, Mucci F, Carbone MG, Sità G, et al. Memory in psychiatric disorders: a review. 2025;15(12):1926.
18. Shahrezaei A, Malak JS, Dashti L, Marjaei S, Nasirinezhad F. Aging-associated changes in chronic pain and cognition: mechanisms, interrelations, and the role of artificial intelligence in optimized management. 2026;8(1):44.
19. Abbasi Sarajehlou S, Afsharian F, Khorram Abadi R, Khalili H. Enhancing working memory after traumatic brain injury using transcranial direct-current stimulation and computer-assisted cognitive rehabilitation. 2025:1-12.
20. Sergeevich ON. Working memory network synchronization as the basis of working memory capacity and learning.
21. Giesler LP, Mychasiuk R, Shultz SR, McDonald S. BDNF: new views of an old player in traumatic brain injury. J Neurotrauma. 2024;30(5):560-73.
Downloads
Published
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2026 Abdul Rehman Naeem, Mahwish Haque, Saima Kanwal Attique, Maqsooda Akram Butt, Syeda Qaima Abbas, Sameea Areeb (Author)

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
© The Authors. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).




.png)