Sound Therapy - Neurodegenerative Disease Research, MIT, 40Hz

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A rather unusual and serious topic to present here, but I believe it might be beneficial to have at least one thread found in this extensive community that addresses recent research studies in the field of neurodegenerative disease that, surprisingly, may intersect with our interests and capabilities in sound and DIY audio. Over the last 2-3 years at MIT, University of Toronto, and elsewhere, there's been work exploring non-invasive and nonpharmacological techniques to impact brain disease in both mice and humans employing sound and light.

In general terms (and please, don't leave my paraphrasing of the reports as your only input -- read the studies directly) a method of brainwave "entrainment" is used where an attempt is made to sync brainwaves in the spectrum that is understood to see a loss of activity in patients with brain diseases (Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, dementia) through exposure to 40 Hz, whether as sound, light, or physical conduction to the body. The routine and prolonged exposure to 40 Hz is credited with breaking up the clumping of beta amalyoid plaques within the brain that are strongly associated with Alzheimer's, for example.

Further research is currently underway at these institutions and others using both mice and humans to replicate earlier findings, and develop greater understanding of what potential there may be in approaches along these lines, however, outcomes won't be presented for another 2-4 years. There may be a suitable space for further anecdotal experimentation in communities where creating similar auditory environments pose no real challenge.

Links to studies and coverage:
 
With populations living longer, the flip-side has been an increased incidence of these slowly debilitating diseases. It is, very unfortunately, common above a certain age, and will want to be doing whatever we can to curb its rise. Though our understanding of potential underlying causes and possible preventative measures seems to be in its infancy still, much can be said about the benefits of exercise, proper sleep (which is paid far too much lip-service), diet, avoiding pollution and toxins, and of course social and mental engagement for reducing cumulative risk factors -- over a lifetime -- that predispose one.

I certainly do not wish to provide advice or any kind of false hope to others, however, there are individuals engaged in making rough use of the mentioned techniques at home, for whatever it may be worth, given that the risks to using speakers, a sub, headphones, and other conductors, in this way are low. The lighting methods involving flicker are an obvious risk to epileptics. And of course to be in very close proximity to an extremely powerful magnet may interfere with pacemakers and other implanted devices. The disclaimer must be added that this is not an attempt to provide any kind of medical advice and I am not a medical professional. Always consult a physician, and share the studies.

Additional links:

Does listening to a 40 Hz tone “clean up“ the brain in Alzheimer’s patients? << Hope This Helps

Low-Hum Therapy Seems To Counteract Alzheimer’s Symptoms In Mice | IFLScience

Unique visual stimulation may be new treatment for Alzheimer’s | MIT News

Air Pollution May Affect Mental Intelligence — Guardian Life — The Guardian Nigeria Newspaper – Nigeria and World News

Study of Alzheimer's Patients Finds Low Frequency Sound Stimulation Improves Cognition - Alzheimer's News Today (Paywalled)

https://www.nature.com/articles/nature20587 (Paywalled)

I no longer have university access to some of the journals mentioned, so if others do and care to share a summary, that would be appreciated.
 
New report out of Australia on research at the Queensland Brain Institute where ultrasound has been used, successfully in animal models, as a facilitator in treating dementia, and funding how now been allocated to begin clinical trials in humans starting in 2019.

Dementia symptoms reversed in mice, human trials next after federal funding announced - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Ultrasound, both independently and in conjunction with medications, has in those models been shown to work around the blood brain barrier, which previously has been the stumbling block in an effective delivery mechanism for medications, as I understand this. Ultrasound alone has shown benefits in either breaking down beta amyloid plaques or tau proteins.

Sound in one form or another (40 hz or ultrasound) is playing vital role in leading potential new treatment research. As sound enthusiasts here on DIY Audio, please freely share observations or comments on this subject. Very often it is the lateral thinking approach that makes inroads to new approaches. It was fundamentally in some sense, a lateral-thinking creative act on the part of QBI researchers to consider such potential ways of developing a more effective delivery mechanism for neurodegenerative disease medications that overcome the blood-brain barrier, by applying ultrasound in this way.

"Using ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier holds potential for dementia"
YouTube
Note in the YouTube comment section, Queensland Brain Institute responds directly to some questions and inquiries.
 
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New report out of Australia on research at the Queensland Brain Institute where ultrasound has been used, successfully in animal models, as a facilitator in treating dementia, and funding how now been allocated to begin clinical trials in humans starting in 2019.

Dementia symptoms reversed in mice, human trials next after federal funding announced - ABC News (Australian Broadcasting Corporation)

Ultrasound, both independently and in conjunction with medications, has in those models been shown to work around the blood brain barrier, which previously has been the stumbling block in an effective delivery mechanism for medications, as I understand this. Ultrasound alone has shown benefits in either breaking down beta amyloid plaques or tau proteins.

Sound in one form or another (40 hz or ultrasound) is playing vital role in leading potential new treatment research. As sound enthusiasts here on DIY Audio, please freely share observations or comments on this subject. Very often it is the lateral thinking approach that makes inroads to new approaches. It was fundamentally in some sense, a lateral-thinking creative act on the part of QBI researchers to consider such potential ways of developing a more effective delivery mechanism for neurodegenerative disease medications that overcome the blood-brain barrier, by applying ultrasound in this way.

"Using ultrasound to open the blood-brain barrier holds potential for dementia"
YouTube
Note in the YouTube comment section, Queensland Brain Institute responds directly to some questions and inquiries.


View attachment Nonlocal Effects of Chemical Substances on the Brain.PDF


Dan.
 
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New report out of Australia on research at the Queensland Brain Institute where ultrasound has been used, successfully in animal models, as a facilitator in treating dementia, and funding how now been allocated to begin clinical trials in humans starting in 2019.
Fascinating stuff. Just by coincidence I read the study last night. There is something injected into the bloodstream that causes micro-bubbles which are then excited into cavitation by the ultrasound. Seems to break up so problems and also cross the blood/brain barrier. Human trials should be interesting.
 
On the experiments with outcomes believed made possible due to quantum entanglements -- very interesting. Much time has elapsed since 2006, and so I wonder about successful replication of their findings. Thank you for sharing Dan. Curious whether the QBI researchers came across this in the literature.
 
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On the experiments with outcomes believed made possible due to quantum entanglements -- very interesting. Much time has elapsed since 2006, and so I wonder about successful replication of their findings. Thank you for sharing Dan. Curious whether the QBI researchers came across this in the literature.
Glad you found it interesting, me too.
In my experiences and experimentations and learnings I have come to similar/same conclusions but by different pathways, and then much later I recently found this Wu/Hu paper quite by accident/serendipity.
There are papers showing biological/molecular effects of vanishingly low levels of EMR from well below power line frequencies and up through mm waves.


Dan.
 

Sooooooo.... Low frequency sound and flashing lights could be therapeutic for age-related dementia? Interesting.

Time to hit the nearest techno fest!

oontz oontz oontz oontz

Seriously, though, ultrasound loosening the blood-brain barrier is no surprise when you consider cell or vessel resonant frequencies are probably in that range given their size & elasticity.

Thanks for the links, v. interesting reads.
 
... ultrasound loosening the blood-brain barrier is no surprise when you consider cell or vessel resonant frequencies are probably in that range given their size & elasticity ....
Yes this research is really exciting news for mice breed to have dementia.

Back in the real world as pointed out earlier, its the boring stuff that matters for humans here and now- apparently we need to do stuff like learn a new language, take up a new instrument, eat fresh food, take a lithium supplement , exercise , sleep well, socialise with smart people.....
 
Sooooooo.... Low frequency sound and flashing lights could be therapeutic for age-related dementia? Interesting.

Time to hit the nearest techno fest!

oontz oontz oontz oontz

Seriously, though, ultrasound loosening the blood-brain barrier is no surprise when you consider cell or vessel resonant frequencies are probably in that range given their size & elasticity.

Thanks for the links, v. interesting reads.
:idea: Techno fest at 432Hz tuning.
 
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