Mice again, but not drugs. Instead, it’s the promising use of strobe-type flashing lights to modify brain waves (neuromodulation) to induce changes beneficial to Alzheimer’s sufferers.

It has been previously noted that both human Alzheimer’s sufferers and the mice models of Alzheimer’s exhibit disrupted gamma waves, which are the highest frequency waves and are associated with higher cognitive events. The study placed mice, genetically engineered to mimic Alzheimer’s symptoms, in a box with strobe lights flashing at 40 cycles per second for an hour a day. This stimulated the visual cortex of the mice to generate more gamma waves, which set in motion an apparent sequence of biological events: A change in gene expression causes microglia (immune cells in the brain) to change shape, going into scavenger mode, where they better perform their usual housekeeping role, clearing away cellular debris, including amyloid-β.

Note how complex the brain and how difficult the science: In Brain Inflammation & Alzheimer’s, we discussed work showing that Alzheimer’s-type inflammatory response on the part of microglia can lead to increase in the deposit of amyloid-β, whereas the present work shows the microglia being stimulated to improve the removal of amyloid-β.

Here is a link to a recent Nature magazine news feature article on the MIT work and related work on the role of brain waves. The article is an excellent explication of the work and how it affects how the brain works:

How flashing lights and pink noise might banish Alzheimer’s, improve memory and more

Below are links to a number of media articles on the work. The first group deals with the MIT group’s earlier report from 2016:

Flashing light therapy’ for Alzheimer’s

Beating Alzheimer’s With Brain Waves

Unique visual stimulation may be new treatment for Alzheimer’s

LED Lights May Be a Promising New Alzheimer’s Treatment, MIT Study Says

Toward Treating Alzheimer’s Disease with Brain Waves

Here is the earlier research article:

Gamma frequency entrainment attenuates amyloid load and modifies microglia

Here are links to media articles on the more recent research:

Alzheimer’s Memory Loss May Be Reversible, MIT Study Says

How does the Sp3-HDAC2 Complex Reduce Synaptic Function in Alzheimer’s?

And here is the more recent research report:

The Transcription Factor Sp3 Cooperates with HDAC2 to Regulate Synaptic Function and Plasticity in Neurons

Light therapy (sitting bathed in light every morning) has been successfully used for treating the form of depression known as Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD) (see e.g., Take Light, Not Drugs). If this strobe-approach to Alzheimer’s is successful with humans, Alzheimer’s treatment could utilize a similar therapeutic approach, or even possibly the two therapies could be combined when appropriate.

All of the links have been added to Alzheimer’s > Treatment