1. A feasibility trial of gamma sensory flicker for patients with prodromal Alzheimer's disease
- Author
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Levi B. Wood, Jonna K Seppa, James J. Lah, Alyssa F. Pybus, Deqiang Qiu, Kay M Colon-Motas, Qiliang He, Annabelle C. Singer, Allan I. Levey, Cecelia Manzanares, Margaret L. Walker, Svjetlana Miocinovic, and Lydia Piendel
- Subjects
0301 basic medicine ,Nervous system ,medicine.medical_specialty ,genetic structures ,sensory stimulation ,Stimulation ,Sensory system ,Audiology ,prodromal Alzheimer's disease ,03 medical and health sciences ,default mode network ,0302 clinical medicine ,medicine ,neural stimulation ,RC346-429 ,Default mode network ,Research Articles ,Sensory stimulation therapy ,medicine.diagnostic_test ,business.industry ,Flicker ,RC952-954.6 ,Magnetic resonance imaging ,electrophysiology ,cytokines ,amyloid beta ,Psychiatry and Mental health ,030104 developmental biology ,medicine.anatomical_structure ,Tolerability ,Geriatrics ,feasibility trial ,Neurology. Diseases of the nervous system ,Neurology (clinical) ,business ,030217 neurology & neurosurgery ,Research Article ,gamma stimulation - Abstract
Introduction We and collaborators discovered that flickering lights and sound at gamma frequency (40 Hz) reduce Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and alter immune cells and signaling in mice. To determine the feasibility of this intervention in humans we tested the safety, tolerability, and daily adherence to extended audiovisual gamma flicker stimulation. Methods Ten patients with mild cognitive impairment due to underlying AD received 1‐hour daily gamma flicker using audiovisual stimulation for 4 or 8 weeks at home with a delayed start design. Results Gamma flicker was safe, tolerable, and adherable. Participants’ neural activity entrained to stimulation. Magnetic resonance imaging and cerebral spinal fluid proteomics show preliminary evidence that prolonged flicker affects neural networks and immune factors in the nervous system. Discussion These findings show that prolonged gamma sensory flicker is safe, tolerable, and feasible with preliminary indications of immune and network effects, supporting further study of gamma stimulation in AD.
- Published
- 2021