BIO

I was born and raised in Tallahassee, Florida. My research interests include Alzheimer's disease, political socialization, and eating disorders. I'm not exactly sure what my career aspirations are yet, but I'm considering law school or something in the field of Psychology.

40 Hz light flickering as a possible treatment for Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is devastating for both the individual and society. It is characterized by aggregation of Amyloid beta (Ab) plaques and Tau tangles. The Ab and Tau proteins build up around and inside neurons, causing deficits in cognitive function. Prior research driving gamma rhythms at 40 Hz frequency with sensory stimulation (flashing light at 40Hz) shows a reduction in Ab and tau aggregation. This has been shown in both auditory and visual stimulation (sound clicking and light flashing at 40Hz) Here, we are assessing visual-only stimulation so we can better understand the effect of a visual-only stimulation on clearing Ab and tau aggregation in the visual cortex and parietal cortex in the 3xTg mouse model of AD. These mice have been genetically modified to express Amyloid-beta aggregation and tau pathology. We are using only visual stimulation to figure out how the results change if only one sensory system is stimulated. We expect the 40hz light flashing to decrease levels of Ab and tau relative to no stimulation. We are still counting Amyloid and tau aggregation, and completing data analysis, but our preliminary results are promising. If this research provides the results we expect, it would be a great step for the scientific and medical communities toward finding a way to combat this vicious disease.

Keywords: Alzheimer's, 40hz, treatment