{"id":2978,"date":"2021-12-08T20:47:00","date_gmt":"2021-12-09T00:47:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/fusfoundation.org\/?post_type=sw_disease_condition&p=2978"},"modified":"2026-04-24T13:47:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-24T17:47:32","slug":"amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als","status":"publish","type":"sw_disease_condition","link":"https:\/\/www.fusfoundation.org\/diseases-and-conditions\/amyotrophic-lateral-sclerosis-als\/","title":{"rendered":"Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
Find a Treatment Site or Clinical Trial<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

Overview<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Focused ultrasound is a noninvasive, therapeutic technology with the potential to improve the quality of life and decrease the cost of care for patients with ALS. This novel technology focuses beams of ultrasonic energy precisely and accurately on targets deep in the brain without damaging surrounding normal tissue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

How it Works<\/strong>
Where the beams converge, focused ultrasound produces temporary opening of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) that may allow therapeutic agents to gain access to the brain in sufficient quantities to treat ALS. The BBB closes shortly after the completion of the sonication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Benefits<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

There is no cure for ALS and current therapies focus on slowing disease progression and symptom management. However, the blood brain barrier can prevent therapies from reaching the brain in adequate concentrations. Focused ultrasound blood-brain and blood-spinal barrier opening has the potential to enhance the delivery of disease modifying therapies (DMTs) such as small molecules and gene therapy to treat ALS more effectively. Additionally, focused ultrasound neuromodulation may be able to augment nerve firing to prevent and slow muscle weakness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Advantages:<\/p>\n\n\n\n