Using only light and sound, clumps of harmful proteins which interfere with brain functions were partially cleared in mice brain.
Research led by MIT earlier this year found strobe lights and a low pitched buzz can be used to recreate brain waves lost in the disease, which in turn remove plaque and improve cognitive function in mice engineered to display Alzheimer's-like behaviour.
It's a little like using light and sound to trigger their own brain waves to help fight the disease.
It’s too soon to be excited, however, as the method has not yet been clinically trialed in humans. Brain waves also work differently in humans and mice.
These early findings could hint affordable and drug-free treatments of common forms of dementia, should it be replicated.
More details about this topic over at ScienceAlert.
(Image Credit: Gabrielle Drummond/ ScienceAlert)