An update on the use of gamma (multi)sensory stimulation for Alzheimer's disease treatment

Valerio Manippa; Annalisa Palmisano; Marco Filardi; Davide Vilella; Michael A Nitsche; Davide Rivolta; Giancarlo Logroscino

doi:10.3389/fnagi.2022.1095081

An update on the use of gamma (multi)sensory stimulation for Alzheimer's disease treatment

Front Aging Neurosci. 2022 Dec 15:14:1095081. doi: 10.3389/fnagi.2022.1095081. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Valerio Manippa^{1

2}, Annalisa Palmisano¹, Marco Filardi^{3

4}, Davide Vilella⁴, Michael A Nitsche^{2

5}, Davide Rivolta¹, Giancarlo Logroscino^{3

4}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Education, Psychology and Communication, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
² Department of Psychology and Neurosciences, Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors, Dortmund, Germany.
³ Department of Basic Medicine, Neuroscience and Sense Organs, University of Bari Aldo Moro, Bari, Italy.
⁴ Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases and the Aging Brain, University of Bari Aldo Moro at Pia Fondazione "Card. G. Panico", Tricase, Italy.
⁵ Bielefeld University, University Hospital OWL, Protestant Hospital of Bethel Foundation, University Clinic of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy and University Clinic of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Bielefeld, Germany.

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by reduced fast brain oscillations in the gamma band (γ, > 30 Hz). Several animal studies show that inducing gamma oscillations through (multi)sensory stimulation at 40 Hz has the potential to impact AD-related cognitive decline and neuropathological processes, including amyloid plaques deposition, neurofibrillary tangles formation, and neuronal and synaptic loss. Therefore Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory stimulation (GENUS) is among the most promising approaches for AD patients' treatment. This review summarizes the evidence on GENUS effectiveness, from animal models to AD patients. Despite the application on human is in its infancy, the available findings suggest its feasibility for the treatment of AD. We discuss such results in light of parameter improvement and possible underlying mechanisms. We finally emphasize the need for further research for its development as a disease-modifying non-pharmacological intervention.

Keywords: 40 Hz stimulation; dementia; gamma waves; multi-sensory therapy; neuromodulation; non-invasive brain stimulation.

Publication types

Review