In the TED Talk “Could We Treat Alzheimer’s with Light and Sound?” neuroscientist researcher explores a novel approach to treating Alzheimer’s disease using gamma brain wave stimulation through light and sound.
This non-invasive therapy aims to increase brain connectivity and synchrony, potentially delaying the progression of Alzheimer’s.
She explains that gamma oscillations, brain waves around 40 Hz, play a crucial role in cognitive functions such as perception and memory. Her research showed that exposing mice to light and sound flickering at this frequency could reduce amyloid-beta plaques and tau protein tangles, which are hallmark pathologies of Alzheimer’s disease. The treatment also improved cognitive functions in these animal models.
The therapy has progressed to human clinical trials, with promising preliminary results indicating that it could slow cognitive decline and reduce brain volume loss in early-stage Alzheimer’s patients.
The simplicity and safety of the method, which involves just an LED light panel and stereo speakers for home use, make it a potentially transformative treatment option compared to current pharmacological approaches (YouTube) (YouTube).
For more details on this innovative research, watch the full TED Talk here.
