Review of the Evidence that Transcranial Electromagnetic Treatment will be a Safe and Effective Therapeutic Against Alzheimer’s Disease

• Published in: Journal of Alzheimer's disease Vol. 53; no. 3; pp. 753 - 771
• Main Author: Arendash, Gary W.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London, England SAGE Publications 03.08.2016
• Subjects: Alzheimer Disease - genetics; Alzheimer Disease - therapy; Animals; Brain - physiology; Brain Neoplasms; Disease Models, Animal; Humans; Magnetic Field Therapy - methods; Magnets; memory; Alzheimer’s disease; cognition; transcranial; Aβ oligomers; electromagnetic treatment
• ISSN: 1387-2877; 1875-8908
• DOI: 10.3233/JAD-160165

We have demonstrated in multiple studies that daily, long-term electromagnetic field (EMF) treatment in the ultra-high frequency range not only protects Alzheimer’s disease (AD) transgenic mice from cognitive impairment, but also reverses such impairment in aged AD mice. Moreover, these beneficial cognitive effects appear to be through direct actions on the AD process. Based on a large array of pre-clinical data, we have initiated a pilot clinical trial to determine the safety and efficacy of EMF treatment to mild-moderate AD subjects. Since it is important to establish the safety of this new neuromodulatory approach, the main purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive assessment of evidence supporting the safety of EMFs, particularly through transcranial electromagnetic treatment (TEMT). In addition to our own pre-clinical studies, a rich variety of both animal and cell culture studies performed by others have underscored the anticipated safety of TEMT in clinical AD trials. Moreover, numerous clinical studies have determined that short- or long-term human exposure to EMFs similar to those to be provided clinically by TEMT do not have deleterious effects on general health, cognitive function, or a variety of physiologic measures—to the contrary, beneficial effects on brain function/activity have been reported. Importantly, such EMF exposure has not been shown to increase the risk of any type of cancer in human epidemiologic studies, as well as animal and cell culture studies. In view of all the above, clinical trials of safety/efficacy with TEMT to AD subjects are clearly warranted and now in progress.