Chronic Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease by Gamma Light and Sound Therapy

Description

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by significant memory loss, toxic protein deposits amyloid and tau) in the brain, and changes in the gamma frequency band on EEG. The investigator's lab found that boosting gamma waves in AD mouse models using light and sound stimulation at 40Hz not only reduced amyloid and tau in the brain, but also improved memory. The investigators developed a light and sound device for humans that stimulates the brain at 40Hz that can be used safely at home. For the present study, 60 participants with mild Alzheimer's disease will be enrolled and will use this light and sound device at-home daily for 6-months. Investigators will measure changes in brain waves with EEG, blood biomarkers, the microbiome via fecal samples, functional and structural MRI scans, memory and cognitive testing, and questionnaires at 3 in-person visits throughout the study. After the 6-month time point, participants will have the option of continuing in the study for one additional year and completing an 18-month study visit. This study will provide critical insight into extended therapy involving non-invasive 40Hz sensory stimulation as a possible therapeutic strategy for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Conditions

Alzheimer Disease, Alzheimer Disease, Early Onset, Alzheimer Disease, Late Onset, Alzheimer's Disease (Incl Subtypes), Alzheimer's, Alzheimer's Disease

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by significant memory loss, toxic protein deposits amyloid and tau) in the brain, and changes in the gamma frequency band on EEG. The investigator's lab found that boosting gamma waves in AD mouse models using light and sound stimulation at 40Hz not only reduced amyloid and tau in the brain, but also improved memory. The investigators developed a light and sound device for humans that stimulates the brain at 40Hz that can be used safely at home. For the present study, 60 participants with mild Alzheimer's disease will be enrolled and will use this light and sound device at-home daily for 6-months. Investigators will measure changes in brain waves with EEG, blood biomarkers, the microbiome via fecal samples, functional and structural MRI scans, memory and cognitive testing, and questionnaires at 3 in-person visits throughout the study. After the 6-month time point, participants will have the option of continuing in the study for one additional year and completing an 18-month study visit. This study will provide critical insight into extended therapy involving non-invasive 40Hz sensory stimulation as a possible therapeutic strategy for mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease.

Chronic Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease With Gamma Frequency Stimulation

Chronic Treatment of Alzheimer's Disease by Gamma Light and Sound Therapy

Condition
Alzheimer Disease
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Cambridge

Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, 02142

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Subject is between the ages of 65 - 100.
  • * Subject must have mild Alzheimer's disease with a Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) score of 19-26.
  • * Subject is willing to sign informed consent document.
  • * If subject is deemed to not have capacity to sign the informed consent, he/she will need a legally authorized representative to provide surrogate consent.
  • * Able to complete the 1st month of at home stimulation at their primary residence. If subjects plan to spend more than 1 week away from their primary residence during the trial, their inclusion must be assessed by the research team.
  • * Subjects who do not have healthcare.
  • * Subjects who are currently taking amyloid reducing therapy.
  • * Subjects who have \> 4 cerebral microbleeds or 1 macrobleed in their brain
  • * Active treatment on a dosage of one or more psychiatric agents (e.g. antidepressants, antipsychotics, etc) for LESS THAN three months (a stable dose for greater than or equal to three months is ok).
  • * Subjects who are actively diagnosed with cancer and undergoing cancer-related treatments
  • * Subjects who are being treated with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists (eg. Memantine).
  • * Subjects on medications that lower seizure threshold such as wellbutrin, ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, etc.
  • * Subjects with history of seizure or epilepsy
  • * Subjects with clinically significant suicide risk and/or suicide attempt in the past 1 year.
  • * Subjects with behavioral problems such as aggression/agitation/impulsivity that might interfere with their ability to comply with protocol.
  • * Subjects with untreated or unstable depression
  • * Active treatment with one or more anti-epileptic agent.
  • * Subjects who have had a stroke within the past 24 months.
  • * Subjects who have had eye surgery in the last 3 months or are scheduled to have eye surgery in the next 6 months (during the study)
  • * Subjects diagnosed with migraine headache.
  • * Subjects who have an active implantable medical device including but not limited to implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), deep brain stimulator (DBS), cardiac pacemaker, and/or sacral nerve stimulator.
  • * Subjects who have profound hearing or visual impairment.
  • * Subjects who have a life expectancy of less than 2 years.
  • * Subjects who are pregnant.
  • * Current or past history of any neurological disorder other than dementia, such as epilepsy, stroke, progressive neurologic disease (e.g. multiple sclerosis) or intracranial brain lesions; and history of previous neurosurgery or head trauma that resulted in residual neurologic impairment.

Ages Eligible for Study

65 Years to 100 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

Massachusetts Institute of Technology,

Li Huei Tsai, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Study Record Dates

2026-09-01