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MIT Study Shows Tactile Stimulation May Reduce Alzheimer’s Disease Pathology and Symptoms
A new study conducted by MIT researchers has found that 40 Hz gamma frequency brain rhythms tactile stimulation can help mitigate Alzheimer’s disease pathology and symptoms. The study built on previous research that showed the potential of non-invasive sensory stimulation as a new therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.
Improved Brain Health and Motor Function
The study revealed that daily exposure to 40 Hz vibrations improved brain health and motor function in mice. Moreover, the research found that such tactile stimulation not only improved brain health and motor function but also reduced levels of Alzheimer’s characteristic protein and neural DNA damage.
Reduction in Key Markers of AD Disease
The team focused its analyses in two areas of the brain: the primary somatosensory cortex (SSp), where tactile sensations are processed, and the primary motor cortex (MOp), where the brain produces movement commands for the body. The researchers placed mouse cages over speakers playing 40 Hz sound to produce the vibration stimulation. The differences measured between the stimulated and control mice were made by the addition of tactile stimulation.
P301S and CK-p25 mice were used to test if whole-body 40 Hz tactile stimulation could produce meaningful benefits in two commonly used mouse models of Alzheimer’s neurodegeneration, the Tau P301S mouse, which recapitulates the disease’s tau pathology, and the CK-p25 mouse, which recapitulates the synapse loss and DNA damage seen in human disease. P301S mice stimulated for three weeks showed significant preservation of neurons compared to unstimulated controls in both brain regions.
Gamma Frequency Stimulation as a Novel Therapeutic Approach
The researchers confirmed that 40 Hz vibration made a significant difference in neural activity in the brains of healthy, non-Alzheimer’s mice. They assessed the impact of the 40 Hz tactile stimulation on disease in the two mouse models and confirmed that both mouse models were able to stay on a rotating rod significantly longer. CK-p25 mice also showed higher levels of synaptic protein markers in both brain regions compared to un-vibrated control mice.
Conclusion
The research reinforces the potential of non-invasive sensory stimulation as a new therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases. Evidence that non-invasive sensory stimulation of 40 Hz gamma frequency brain rhythms can reduce Alzheimer’s disease pathology and symptoms, already shown with light and sound by multiple research groups in mice and humans, now extends to tactile stimulation.
FAQ
What is tactile stimulation?
Tactile stimulation involves using physical touch or vibration to stimulate the sense of touch.
What is Alzheimer’s disease?
Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological disorder that causes a gradual decline in cognitive function, memory loss, and other symptoms.
What is gamma frequency stimulation?
Gamma frequency stimulation is a type of sensory stimulation that involves exposure to Gamma frequencies, which are ranges of brain waves that are believed to play a role in cognitive function.
How does tactile stimulation help reduce Alzheimer’s disease?
The study found that tactile stimulation using 40 Hz gamma frequency brain rhythms can mitigate Alzheimer’s disease pathology and symptoms, improved brain health and motor function in mice, and reduced levels of Alzheimer’s characteristic protein and neural DNA damage.
Is tactile stimulation a new therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases?
Yes, evidence shows that non-invasive sensory stimulation, including tactile stimulation, can reduce Alzheimer’s disease pathology and symptoms and potentially serve as a novel therapeutic strategy for neurodegenerative diseases.
Who conducted the study?
MIT researchers conducted the study, which was published in Frontiers in Aging Neuroscience.
What are the potential benefits of the study?
The study highlights the potential of non-invasive sensory stimulation, particularly tactile stimulation, as a novel therapeutic approach to Alzheimer’s disease. This research has the potential to improve brain health and motor function in individuals with Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative diseases.
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