Comprehensive Summary
This study, conducted by Geng et al., explores low-field magnetic stimulation (LFMS) as a potential method to treat depression, specifically depression that arises from the onset of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). This study was performed on six C57BL/6 J wild-type mice and 12 male 7-month-old APP/PS1 transgenic AD mice. Over the course of 14 days, the experimental group was administered LFMS twice per day at 40 Hz and 10 mT for 0.5 hours each time. Neural signal recordings, immunofluorescence detection for Aβ42, and electrophysiological activity were analyzed to determine the effects of LFMS on brain activity. LFMS at 40 Hz increased gamma power, synchronized gamma oscillations, and decreased Aβ42 accumulation. This supports the potential usage of LFMS for regulation of brain activity in patients with AD.
Outcomes and Implications
LFMS is a safe, existing, non-invasive technique that can be used to alleviate depression symptoms, and this study provides results that show it can be also used to alleviate depression symptoms in patients with AD, providing a new avenue of treatment techniques for AD. Further research should be conducted to affirm the results of this study, and potentially expand the results of this study to encompass other similar neurological diseases as well.