Home / Science / Flickering Lights and Sound: A New Alzheimer's Hope?
Flickering Lights and Sound: A New Alzheimer's Hope?
16 Feb
Summary
- Sensory stimulation uses 40 Hz lights and sound to slow cognitive decline.
- A large Phase 3 clinical trial is underway across the US.
- This approach targets neural activity, differing from molecular research.
Researchers are exploring a novel approach to combat Alzheimer's disease by using flickering lights and sound at 40 Hz. This non-invasive sensory stimulation therapy aims to slow cognitive decline and reduce brain volume loss in areas critical for memory. Unlike many pharmaceutical efforts focused on molecular changes, this method targets the electrical patterns of neural activity essential for memory formation.
A large-scale, Phase 3 double-blind clinical trial involving nearly 700 patients is currently underway at 70 sites across the United States. This study, led by Cognito Therapeutics, a medtech company, is expected to be completed later this year. Preliminary feasibility studies have indicated that daily hour-long sessions of 40 Hz light and sound may have a beneficial effect.
Dr. Annabelle Singer, a biomedical engineer at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, is a key figure in this research. She collaborated on an initial proof-of-concept study that observed interesting changes in patients' brain connectivity patterns. The hope is that this treatment can provide a safer, more accessible option for millions affected by Alzheimer's worldwide.
