Low Intensity Focused Ultrasound for Mild Cognitive Impairment and Mild Alzheimer's Disease

Inclusion Criteria

• Amnestic MCI or Mild Alzheimer's diagnosis

• Age 50-90

• English-speaking

• Ability to provide informed consent

• Normal or corrected-to-normal hearing and vision

Exclusion Criteria

GENERAL

• Participation in another clinical trial

• Active use of immunotherapeutic medications for cognition (Aduhelm, Leqembi, Kisunla)

• Moderate to Severe Alzheimer's

• Inability to provide informed consent

MRI-Related:

• Weight exceeding 275 pounds

• Pregnancy, suspicion of pregnancy, or attempting to become pregnant

• Claustrophobia

• Difficulties during previous MRIs

• Top permanent retainer (bottom only is okay), 5 or more non-removable gold-teeth, metal braces, top spacers, and/or palate expanders

• Any of the following implants: Cardiac Pacemaker, Aneurysm clips, Cochlear implants, Defibrillator, Electrodes or wires, Magnetically-activated device, Spinal cord stimulator, Infusion or insulin pumps, Implanted drug infusion device, Deep brain stimulation device

• Non-removable hairpieces, hairpiece extensions, and/or piercings

• Facial tattoos or permanent makeup

• Metal implants that are MR-incompatible, or where participant is unable to provide sufficient information to determine MR compatibility

• Previous injury by metallic foreign body (e.g., bullet, BB, shrapnel) where the object entered the body and participant lacks doctor's confirmation that it was fully removed

Medical:

• Diagnosis of one or more of the following neurological disorders: Parkinson's disease, Lou Gehrig's disease (ALS), Multiple sclerosis, Cerebral Palsy

• Diagnosis of one or more of the following genetic disorders: Cystic Fibrosis, Sickle Cell Disease

• Diagnosis of one or more of the following psychiatric disorders: Bipolar, Psychosis

• Psychiatric illness that has not been controlled for at least two months (if controlled >2 months, with or without medication, they are not exclusionary)

• Severe lung, liver, heart, and/or kidney disease/s (e.g., heart failure, liver failure, and etc...)

• Diagnosis of thyroid disorder or change of thyroid medication dose within the last 3 months

• Cancer treatment/s with chemotherapy and/or radiation to head and neck, or stage 4 (metastatic) cancer

• Autoimmune disorder or viral infection such as HIV, COVID 19, or hepatitis C that has caused current problems with cognition/memory

• History of substance abuse in the past year

• History of stroke (Transient ischemic attack / mini-stroke not exclusionary if symptoms lasted <1 week)

• History of 2 or more seizures or diagnosis of epilepsy, unless the seizures occurred prior to age 5 alongside a fever.

• History of brain tumor, brain aneurysm, brain hemorrhage, or subdural hematoma (transient ischemic attack not exclusionary)

• Head injury that resulted in loss of consciousness lasting >30 minutes, cognitive issues lasting >18 months, and/or brain abnormalities visible in CT or MRI scan

• Uncontrolled high blood pressure or diabetes

• Heart attack within the last year