The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) has introduced a potential noninvasive treatment to address the cognitive impairments associated with chemotherapy, known as "chemo brain," which utilizes a straightforward combination of light and sound therapy. 

MIT Introduces Noninvasive Treatment for Chemo Brain

Research conducted by MIT scientists suggests that exposure to specific frequencies of light and sound waves, particularly those oscillating at 40 hertz, may offer therapeutic benefits for individuals grappling with cognitive deficits induced by chemotherapy. 

In experiments conducted on mice, daily light and sound therapy sessions at this frequency demonstrated efficacy in shielding brain cells from chemotherapy-induced damage. 

Furthermore, the treatment exhibited the potential to mitigate memory loss and other cognitive impairments associated with chemo brain.

The therapy initially developed to target Alzheimer's disease, appears to exert broad-ranging effects on neurological health, showcasing promise for the management of various neurodegenerative conditions, according to the researchers.

Dr. Li-Huei Tsai, the senior author of the study and Director of MIT's Picower Institute for Learning and Memory, noted that the treatment regimen appeared to confer multiple benefits, including the reduction of DNA damage, alleviation of inflammation, and augmentation of oligodendrocyte populations responsible for myelin production, which encapsulates nerve fibers.

The therapeutic approach centers around stimulating gamma-frequency brain waves, ranging from 25 to 80 hertz, which are believed to play a crucial role in cognitive processes such as attention, perception, and memory. 

By leveraging light flickering and sounds oscillating at 40 hertz, the treatment aims to bolster gamma wave activity in the brain, thereby imparting protective effects against neurodegeneration.

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Chemotherapy Drugs

Previous investigations by Tsai's team have demonstrated the efficacy of this approach in ameliorating cognitive symptoms in Alzheimer's disease models, offering insights into its potential applications beyond chemotherapy-induced cognitive impairments.

In the current study, researchers explored whether light and sound therapy could counteract the harmful effects of chemotherapy on brain function. 

Chemotherapy drugs have been implicated in triggering brain inflammation, loss of white matter, and demyelination - phenomena similar to those observed in Alzheimer's patients.

Experimental models employing mice administered with chemotherapy drugs revealed that those subjected solely to chemotherapy exhibited significant brain volume shrinkage, DNA damage, and demyelination, alongside cognitive deficits. 

However, mice concurrently receiving gamma therapy alongside chemotherapy displayed marked reductions in these adverse effects and notable improvements in memory and executive function.

Through molecular analyses, researchers discerned that the beneficial effects of gamma therapy were associated with the suppression of inflammation-linked genes and genes implicated in cell death, particularly in oligodendrocytes. 

The sustained improvements observed in mice treated with gamma therapy underscored its potential as a long-term therapeutic strategy for mitigating chemo brain.

Furthermore, the therapeutic benefits of gamma therapy extended to other chemotherapy drugs, such as methotrexate, which is used for breast and lung cancers and other types of cancer.

Tsai's lab is exploring the therapeutic potential of gamma therapy in other neurological disorders, including Parkinson's disease and multiple sclerosis.

Additionally, clinical trials conducted by Cognito Therapeutics, a company co-founded by Tsai and MIT Professor Edward Boyden, have demonstrated promising results in Alzheimer's patients, paving the way for further investigations into its efficacy.

"My lab's major focus now, in terms of clinical application, is Alzheimer's; but hopefully we can test this approach for a few other indications, too," Tsai said in a statement. 

The findings of the study were published in Science Translational Medicine. 

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