Chemotherapy often leads to cognitive effects such as memory impairment and difficulty concentrating, a condition known as “chemo brain.” Researchers at MIT have discovered a potential solution: a noninvasive treatment that stimulates gamma frequency brain waves. In a study using mice, they found that daily exposure to light and sound at a frequency of 40 hertz protected brain cells from chemotherapy-induced damage, preventing memory loss and cognitive impairment.
The treatment, originally developed for Alzheimer’s disease, showed promising results in preventing DNA damage, reducing inflammation, and increasing the number of oligodendrocytes, cells responsible for producing myelin. Additionally, it improved learning, memory, and executive function in the mice.
Dr. Li-Huei Tsai, the senior author of the study, explained that gamma frequency stimulation had previously been shown to have protective effects in Alzheimer’s disease. This treatment stimulates brain waves that contribute to attention, perception, and memory.
The study used mice treated with cisplatin, a chemotherapy drug, and found that those who received gamma therapy alongside chemotherapy showed significant reductions in brain volume shrinkage, DNA damage, demyelination, and inflammation. Moreover, they performed much better on memory and executive function tests compared to mice receiving chemotherapy alone.
Further analysis revealed that the gamma therapy suppressed inflammation-linked genes and genes triggering cell death, especially in oligodendrocytes. The beneficial effects of the treatment were observed up to four months later, emphasizing its long-term potential.
The researchers also tested the treatment in mice treated with another chemotherapy drug, methotrexate, used for breast, lung, and other cancers, and found similar positive outcomes.
Dr. Tsai’s lab is now exploring the application of gamma therapy in mouse models of other neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s disease and multiple sclerosis. Cognito Therapeutics, a company co-founded by Dr. Tsai and MIT Professor Edward Boyden, has completed a Phase II trial of gamma therapy in Alzheimer’s patients and plans to begin a Phase III trial this year.
This noninvasive treatment shows promise not only in protecting against chemo brain but also in addressing various neurological disorders, offering hope for improved patient outcomes in the future.
