Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation improves memory in vascular dementia by enhancing neuronal activity and promoting spine formation
Jiamin Pei,
Cong Zhang,
Xiao Zhang,
Zhe Zhao,
Xiangjian Zhang,
Yi Yuan
Affiliations
Jiamin Pei
School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, No.438 Hebei Street, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, No.438 Hebei Street, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Cong Zhang
Department of Neurology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No.215 Heping Road, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
Xiao Zhang
Department of Neurology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No.215 Heping Road, Shijiazhuang 050000, China
Zhe Zhao
School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, No.438 Hebei Street, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, No.438 Hebei Street, Qinhuangdao 066004, China
Xiangjian Zhang
Department of Neurology, Hebei Key Laboratory of Vascular Homeostasis and Hebei Collaborative Innovation Center for Cardio-cerebrovascular Disease, The Second Hospital of Hebei Medical University, No.215 Heping Road, Shijiazhuang 050000, China; Corresponding author.
Yi Yuan
School of Electrical Engineering, Yanshan University, No.438 Hebei Street, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Key Laboratory of Intelligent Rehabilitation and Neuromodulation of Hebei Province, Yanshan University, No.438 Hebei Street, Qinhuangdao 066004, China; Corresponding author at: Qinhuangdao 066004, China.
Memory is closely associated with neuronal activity and dendritic spine formation. Low-intensity transcranial ultrasound stimulation (TUS) improves the memory of individuals with vascular dementia (VD). However, it is unclear whether neuronal activity and dendritic spine formation under ultrasound stimulation are involved in memory improvement in VD. In this study, we found that seven days of TUS improved memory in VD model while simultaneously increasing pyramidal neuron activity, promoting dendritic spine formation, and reducing dendritic spine elimination. These effects lasted for 7 days but disappeared on 14 d after TUS. Neuronal activity and dendritic spine formation strongly corresponded to improvements in memory behavior over time. In addition, we also found that the memory, neuronal activity and dendritic spine of VD mice cannot be restored again by TUS of 7 days after 28 d. Collectively, these findings suggest that TUS increases neuronal activity and promotes dendritic spine formation and is thus important for improving memory in patients with VD.
