Emerging research indicates that 40Hz gamma frequency stimulation could have a positive impact on brain health and might even offer new treatment avenues for Alzheimer's disease. According to a review article in PLOS Biology, initial studies, primarily conducted at The Picower Institute for Learning and Memory at MIT, have observed improvements in Alzheimer's indicators both in animal models and human subjects.
MIT's decade-long investigations, starting with a 2016 paper in Nature, have highlighted that 40Hz stimulation by various sensory methods reduce Alzheimer's pathology. Despite the expansion of the field, the precise cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying these positive effects remain partially shrouded, in mystery. Additionally, these treatments are not a catchall. They have led to a reduction in amyloid and tau proteins and preservation of memory and cognition in mice, recorded by The Picower Institute team, directed by neuroscience professor Li-Huei Tsai. "As we’ve made all our observations, many other people in the field have published results that are very consistent," Tsai told MIT News.
The wave of optimism isn't limited to MIT's corridors. International teams—from China corroborating the increase of glymphatic fluid flows in mice to researchers in Scotland improving memory recall using audio and visual gamma stimulation—have expanded knowledge in this field. These independent studies further support the potential of noninvasive gamma stimulation in fighting the progression of Alzheimer's disease.
Moreover, MIT's spinoff company, Cognito Therapeutics, has carried forward the torch into clinical settings, with ongoing phase II and phase III trials indicating practical benefits for patients with Alzheimer's. These studies have reported noteworthy results like the slowing of brain atrophy and cognitive improvements among participants, as echoed by Cognito's findings. Albeit promising, "the more we understand the mechanisms, the more we will have good ideas about how to further optimize the treatment," as Tsai remarked in her interview with MIT News.
While GENUS—an abbreviation for Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory Stimulation—shows promise for Alzheimer's, research suggests it may also aid with other neurological disorders such as Parkinson's, stroke, anxiety, and multiple sclerosis. With the field burgeoning, the coming years will likely see a refining of GENUS applications, unlocking further therapeutic potential for a range of neurodegenerative and cognitive conditions.
