Can Light and Sound Slow Alzheimer's? A Scientist's Bold Experiment

Over 7 million Americans aged 65 and older currently live with Alzheimer's disease—a number expected to nearly double by 2060. While newly approved drugs like lecanemab and donanemab offer limited benefits at high costs, researchers are exploring alternative treatments. One promising approach involves non-invasive brain stimulation using light and sound, developed by biomedical engineer Annabelle Singer.

Annabelle Singer, an associate professor at Georgia Institute of Technology and Emory University, is investigating how disruptions in neural activity contribute to memory loss in Alzheimer's. Her work focuses on patterns of brain waves, particularly gamma oscillations, which are linked to cognitive function.

Singer's interest in light and sound began with her passion for theatre. This fascination later inspired her to test whether flickering lights and rhythmic sounds at 40 Hz could influence brain activity. In an early proof-of-concept study, patients exposed to this stimulation showed improvements in spinal fluid markers and brainwave patterns recorded on EEGs.

Preliminary results suggested that daily hour-long sessions might slow cognitive decline and reduce brain volume loss. These findings led to a larger Phase 3 clinical trial, now underway with nearly 700 participants. The study, conducted by Cognito Therapeutics, aims to confirm the method's effectiveness, though the number of US trial sites remains unspecified.

With over 57 million people worldwide living with dementia—most due to Alzheimer's—experts, including those at the Mayo Clinic, believe future treatments may combine multiple approaches. Singer's non-invasive technique offers a potential alternative to costly medications with modest results.

The ongoing Phase 3 trial will determine whether Singer's brain stimulation method can provide a viable treatment for Alzheimer's. If successful, it could join a growing range of options for patients and families affected by the disease. For now, research continues as the number of cases worldwide keeps rising.