Nature's new breakthrough! LED illumination can treat Alzheimer's disease
Nature's new breakthrough! LED illumination can treat Alzheimer's disease
December 13, 2016 Source: Bio Discovery
Window._bd_share_config={ "common":{ "bdSnsKey":{ },"bdText":"","bdMini":"2","bdMiniList":false,"bdPic":"","bdStyle":" 0","bdSize":"16"},"share":{ }};with(document)0[(getElementsByTagName('head')[0]||body).appendChild(createElement('script')) .src='http://bdimg.share.baidu.com/static/api/js/share.js?v=89860593.js?cdnversion='+~(-new Date()/36e5)];Recently, a research team from MIT published a study in the journal Nature, which used a specific frequency of blinking LED lights to significantly reduce beta-amyloid plaques in the visual cortex of Alzheimer's disease model mice. By stimulating gamma brain waves, researchers can not only inhibit the production of β-like amyloid plaques in the brain, but also promote the clearance of β-like amyloid plaques by microglia.
The discovery of Alzheimer's disease (AD) has been more than a century old, but among the top ten deadly diseases, Alzheimer's disease remains the only disease that cannot be prevented, treated and cured. As human lifespan increases, the number of elderly people increases, and more and more patients with Alzheimer's disease. In the United States alone, more than 5 million people suffer from Alzheimer's disease. Among them, β-like amyloid plaques and abnormal phosphorylation of tau are the main biochemical features of Alzheimer's disease. According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, this number will increase to 14 million in the middle of this century.
Recently, a research team from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Piccole Learning and Memory Center published a study in the journal Nature that excited scientists, they only use LED flashing at a specific frequency, which greatly reduced the number of LED lights. Beta-amyloid plaques in the visual cortex of Alzheimer's disease model mice. By stimulating gamma brain waves, researchers can not only inhibit the production of β-like amyloid plaques in the brain, but also promote the clearance of β-like amyloid plaques by microglia.
However, the researchers said that whether this treatment can be applied to humans requires further research. Once successful, the potential for this therapy will be enormous because it is a non-invasive, easy-to-develop treatment.
When the brain is active, many neurons can produce brain waves by simultaneous discharge. These brain waves are divided into different bands depending on the frequency, including α, θ, β, and γ waves. The frequency of gamma waves is between 25-80 Hz and is closely related to brain functions such as attention, cognition and memory. Previous studies have shown that patients with Alzheimer's disease often experience γ wave damage.
Optogenetic techniques stimulate gamma waves
In this study, the researchers used genetic engineering to model mice with Alzheimer's disease models, but these mice have not developed plaque deposits or related behavioral symptoms. The researchers found that the gamma waves in the brain were damaged during the labyrinth. Next, the researchers used optogenetic techniques to stimulate the hippocampus (a brain region associated with memory formation) with a gamma wave at 40 Hz. Optogenetics allows scientists to use light to control the activity of genetically engineered neurons. In this way, the researchers activate interneurons in the brain, which in turn synchronize the gamma activity of the excited neurons.
After a one-hour 40-Hz gamma-wave stimulation, the researchers found that the level of beta-amyloid in the hippocampus of mice decreased by 40% to 50%. However, stimulation at other frequencies between 20-80 Hz failed to produce the above effects.
Specific frequency LED illumination enhances gamma waves and decreases beta-amyloid levels
Researchers are beginning to consider whether non-invasive technologies can achieve the same results. So they thought of using external light to stimulate gamma-wave oscillations in the brain. They built a simple device that was able to flash LED lights at different frequencies. Using the device, the researchers found that mice exposed to very early onset of Alzheimer's disease were exposed to 40 Hz light for one hour, and their gamma-wave oscillations in the visual cortex were enhanced and beta-amyloid levels were reduced by half. However, within 24 hours after the end of the irradiation, the beta-amyloid protein returned to its original level.
Next, the researchers examined whether a longer course of treatment could reduce beta-amyloid levels in mice with more severe disease. The mice treated 1 mouse per day, and after 7 days of continuous treatment, both plaques and free amyloid were significantly decreased. Researchers are currently determining how long this effect will last.
In addition, the researchers found that gamma brain waves can also reduce another important biomarker level of Alzheimer's disease: abnormally modified tau protein. This protein forms neurofibrillary tangles in the brain.
Researchers are currently investigating whether illumination can excite gamma-wave oscillations in brain regions other than the visual cortex. Preliminary data suggest that this is possible. In addition, the researchers were also looking to see if the reduction in beta-amyloid plaques had an effect on the behavioral symptoms of Alzheimer's disease mice and whether this technique had an effect on other neurological diseases associated with gamma-wave damage.
Gamma waves promote microglia clearance of β-amyloid protein
So why does stimulating gamma brain waves reduce beta-amyloid levels? The researchers further explored the biochemical mechanisms behind this. They found that beta-amyloid protein production was reduced after gamma-wave stimulation. At the same time, gamma-wave oscillation can also enhance the ability of a small cell in the brain to clear the β-amyloid protein. Microglia cleans toxic substances and cell debris, keeping neurons healthy.
In fact, in patients with Alzheimer's disease, microglia are often over-activated, they promote neuroinflammation, and secrete cytokines to accelerate neuronal death. However, when gamma waves in the brain of mice are activated, these microglia undergo morphological changes, and the ability to scavenge β-amyloid proteins becomes stronger. This means that enhancing gamma waves reduces beta-amyloid levels by at least two pathways. One is to reduce the production of β-amyloid protein, and the other is to enhance the ability of microglia to scavenge β-amyloid protein.
The team also sequenced mRNA in the brain of treated mice. They found that hundreds of gene expression levels have changed. The researchers will next examine the possible effects of these changes on Alzheimer's disease.
Currently, the lab has co-founded a company with other research groups to test in human patients. Michael Sipser, director of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's School of Science, said that this important research heralded a major breakthrough in understanding and treating Alzheimer's disease. Scientists at MIT have opened up new mechanisms and precautions to study the disease. direction.
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