Dr Lars Wojtecki | Treating Alzheimer’s Disease with a New Brain Stimulation Technique

TPS involves sending repeated short mechanical shockwaves into the brain through the scalp and skull in a controlled manner. The technique is straightforward and requires around six 30-minute sessions over two weeks. However, there has been very little published research regarding the safety and effectiveness of this method. 

Dr Lars Wojtecki at Heinrich-Heine-University and colleagues have recently investigated whether TPS is safe, whether it lessens symptoms, and whether brain function can be improved in patients with mild, moderate, or severe Alzheimer’s.

Dr Wojtecki first summarizes previous research showing that TPS has some advantages over other brain stimulation treatments. It is able to penetrate the brain more deeply than other techniques without damaging surrounding tissue, as it is highly focused. Unlike similar therapies, namely ultrasound, very brief single shockwaves are followed by a slightly longer pulse, which together produce a high-pressure, low-tension effect. The treatment is thought to work by causing changes in blood vessels, nerve tissue, and the brain’s energy requirements following stimulation.

The results of the study from Dr Wojtecki’s team indicate that TPS is a safe treatment with few side-effects. It has a positive influence on the severity of disease symptoms, depressive feelings, and brain function in patients with mild, moderate, and severe Alzheimer’s after one treatment cycle. As such, the treatment could have a positive impact on quality of life, for both patients and their families. 

While very encouraging, larger studies with control subjects will need to confirm that TPS is safe and effective for a wide range of Alzheimer’s patients. Follow-up studies to evaluate long-term effects are also needed. For now, Dr Wojtecki and his team recommend that TPS is investigated as add-on to standard treatment under the guidance of neuro-scientific specialists.