A promising new Alzheimer's treatment uses light and sound to stimulate crucial brain waves.

And it turned out that in Alzheimer's disease, the gamma waves are compromised.

It's Tuesday, August 20th and you're listening to Science Friday.

I'm Cyphy producer Shishana Bucks Bound.

An intriguing potential new Alzheimer's Therapy.

No, it's not a new blockbuster drug.

The therapy uses 40hertz frequencies of light No, it's not a new blockbuster drug.

The therapy uses 40hertz frequencies of light and sound

to stimulate the brain.

And research in mice showed a substantial decrease

in amyloid plaques, a key biomarker for the disease, and an improvement in cognitive functioning.

And the technology is currently being tested for efficacy in humans.

But how exactly does this treatment work? Here's Ira with more.

Joining us now to talk about her work on this therapy is Dr. Lehui Tzei, Professor of

Neuroscience, Director of the Pekhauer Institute for Learning and Memory

at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, based in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Dr. Sai, welcome to Science Friday.

Thank you very much, Ira, for having me here today.

You're quite welcome.

Let's begin with some basic brain science.

Your work stimulated brain waves in these lab animals.

What exactly is a brain wave?

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