Imagine you’re trying to fix a broken circuit in your house, but no matter what you do, it just won’t work properly. Then, you have a brainwave (literally)! You decide to combine two different switches, toggle them together, and voila! The circuit springs back to life. Well, it turns out that researchers are taking a similar approach with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) treatment. They’re combining transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) with sound stimulation to enhance cognitive function in patients with mild to moderate AD. This is like merging two techniques that individually have limited effects, but when used together, they might create a synergistic effect to keep the circuit of cognition running smoothly. The researchers will be studying 87 AD patients and evaluating the impact of the combined treatment on cognitive improvement using a scale called Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog). In addition, they’ll also explore changes in the brain networks of these patients after treatment. The goal is to find a better treatment plan for AD patients and uncover the potential mechanism behind this innovative combination therapy.
BackgroundThe number of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) worldwide is increasing yearly, but the existing treatment methods have poor efficacy. Transcranial alternating current stimulation (tACS) is a new treatment for AD, but the offline effect of tACS is insufficient. To prolong the offline effect, we designed to combine tACS with sound stimulation to maintain the long-term post-effect.Materials and methodsTo explore the safety and effectiveness of tACS combined with sound stimulation and its impact on the cognition of AD patients. This trial will recruit 87 patients with mild to moderate AD. All patients were randomly divided into three groups. The change in Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale-Cognitive (ADAS-Cog) scores from the day before treatment to the end of treatment and 3 months after treatment was used as the main evaluation index. We will also explore the changes in the brain structural network, functional network, and metabolic network of AD patients in each group after treatment.DiscussionWe hope to conclude that tACS combined with sound stimulation is safe and tolerable in 87 patients with mild to moderate AD under three standardized treatment regimens. Compared with tACS alone or sound alone, the combination group had a significant long-term effect on cognitive improvement. To screen out a better treatment plan for AD patients. tACS combined with sound stimulation is a previously unexplored, non-invasive joint intervention to improve patients’ cognitive status. This study may also identify the potential mechanism of tACS combined with sound stimulation in treating mild to moderate AD patients.Clinical Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov, NCT05251649. Registered on February 22, 2022.
Dr. David Lowemann, M.Sc, Ph.D., is a co-founder of the Institute for the Future of Human Potential, where he leads the charge in pioneering Self-Enhancement Science for the Success of Society. With a keen interest in exploring the untapped potential of the human mind, Dr. Lowemann has dedicated his career to pushing the boundaries of human capabilities and understanding.
Armed with a Master of Science degree and a Ph.D. in his field, Dr. Lowemann has consistently been at the forefront of research and innovation, delving into ways to optimize human performance, cognition, and overall well-being. His work at the Institute revolves around a profound commitment to harnessing cutting-edge science and technology to help individuals lead more fulfilling and intelligent lives.
Dr. Lowemann’s influence extends to the educational platform BetterSmarter.me, where he shares his insights, findings, and personal development strategies with a broader audience. His ongoing mission is shaping the way we perceive and leverage the vast capacities of the human mind, offering invaluable contributions to society’s overall success and collective well-being.