In an animal study published on July 6, 2021, in Radiology, researchers Yaoheng Yang, Christopher Pham Pacia, Dezhuang Ye, Yimei Yue, Chih-Yen Chien, and Hong Chen found that static magnetic fields impede medication delivery via focused ultrasound across the blood-brain barrier (BBB).

“In the study, which included 30 mice, Chen’s group discovered that the magnetic field of the MRI scanner reduced the blood-brain barrier’s opening volume by 3.3-fold to 11.7-fold, depending on its strength,” according to AuntMinnie.

May Affect Treatment of Leading Brain Diseases

This study has implications in treating diseases such as Alzheimer’s, ALS, glioblastoma, and Parkinson’s, according to the study’s lead author, Hong Chen, PhD. “’Findings from this study suggest that the impact of the magnetic field needs to be considered in the clinical applications of focused ultrasound in brain drug delivery,’ she said in a statement released by the university,” reported AuntMinnie.

Sources

“MRI’s magnetic field may inhibit opening of blood-brain barrier” By AuntMinnie.com staff writers. Available at: https://www.auntminnie.com/index.aspx?sec=sup&sub=mri&pag=dis&ItemID=132902 Accessed July 26, 2021.

Static Magnetic Fields Dampen Focused Ultrasound–mediated Blood-Brain Barrier Opening
Yaoheng Yang, Christopher Pham Pacia, Dezhuang Ye, Yimei Yue, Chih-Yen Chien, and Hong Chen. Radiology 0 0:0 Available at: https://doi.org/10.1148/radiol.2021204441 Accessed: July 26, 2021