High Frequency Light and Sound Stimulation to Improve Brain Functions in Alzheimer's Disease
High Frequency Light and Sound Stimulation to Improve Brain Functions in Alzheimer's Disease
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is characterized by significant memory loss and toxic protein
 deposits (amyloid and tau) in the brain. The investigators' lab found a non-invasive way to
 remove these toxic proteins from the brain in AD mouse models. Remarkably, treated mice also
 have improved memory on behavioral testing. The investigators aim to translate this
 non-invasive method, which uses light and sound to stimulate the brain, to be used in mild
 Alzheimer's patients. 40 participants with mild Alzheimer's disease will be recruited, and
 the investigators will assess their brain waves with electroencephalogram (EEG) before,
 during, and after light and sound stimulation for safety, feasibility, and to optimize the
 stimulation device for use in the mild AD population.
It is known that Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients have significant disruptions in brain
 waves, especially the gamma frequency (~30 - 100 Hz) waves. Recently, the investigators' lab
 found that gamma entrainment using light and sound stimulation, which the investigators call
 GENUS, improves memory and decreases toxic accumulation of amyloid and tau in AD mouse
 models. This study aims to translate these findings in the mouse models to be used in mild
 Alzheimer's patients. The investigators will recruit 40 patients diagnosed with mild AD who
 will be randomly assigned to two study arms. Cognitive and mental health evaluations as well
 as memory tests will be performed on all subjects. All subjects will also be exposed to the
 GENUS device, which can deliver light and sound waves at different frequencies. The GENUS
 device is composed of a panel with light-emitting diode (LED) illumination and speakers for
 auditory stimulation. Each of the 2 groups will have different combinations of light and
 sound settings. The investigators will use electroencephalography (EEG) to check for how the
 participant's brain waves respond to the stimulation, and use questionnaires to evaluate for
 safety and tolerability.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Subject is between the ages of 50 - 100.

 -  Subject must have mild Alzheimer's disease with a Mini Mental State Exam (MMSE) score
 of 19 -26.

 -  Subject is willing to sign informed consent document.

 -  If subject is deemed to not have capacity to sign the informed consent, he/she will
 need a legally authorized representative to provide surrogate consent.

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Subjects who do not have healthcare.

 -  Subjects who are being treated with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists
 (eg. Memantine).

 -  Subjects on medications that lower seizure threshold such as wellbutrin,
 ciprofloxacin, levofloxacin, etc.

 -  Subjects with history of seizure or epilepsy within the past 24 months.

 -  Subjects with clinically significant suicide risk and/or suicide attempt in the past 1
 year.

 -  Subjects with behavioral problems such as aggression/agitation/impulsivity that might
 interfere with their ability to comply with protocol.

 -  Active treatment with one or more anti-epileptic agent.

 -  Subjects who have had a stroke within the past 24 months.

 -  Subjects diagnosed with migraine headache.

 -  Active treatment with one or more psychiatric agent (e.g. antidepressants,
 antipsychotics, etc).

 -  Subjects who have an active implantable medical device including but not limited to
 implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD), deep brain stimulator (DBS), cardiac
 pacemaker, and/or sacral nerve stimulator.

 -  Subjects who have profound hearing or visual impairment.

 -  Subjects who have a life expectancy of less than 2 years.

 -  Subjects who are pregnant.