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Could sound therapy become a future Alzheimer’s treatment?

Experiments in monkeys show that precisely tuned audio may resynchronise brain rhythms and support natural cleansing systems.

3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Jan 16, 2026 06:38 PM IST

Researchers discovered that sound therapy reduced lots of plaque which cause Alzheimer's (Image: Freepik)

Researchers discovered that levels of β-amyloid in the cerebrospinal fluid was up by 200 per cent, indicating that lot of plaque was removed (Image: Freepik)

Listening to low-frequency sounds may aid the brain’s removal of harmful proteins associated with Alzheimer’s disease, says recent studies done on monkeys.

In the experiment, the animals’ cerebrospinal fluid showed higher amounts of β-amyloid, a waste protein linked to Alzheimer’s disease, when there was a constant hum at 40 hertz (Hz). Which indicated that the brain was eliminating the poison more efficiently.

The results, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, indicate that sound stimulation may eventually be used as a component of a non-invasive treatment for the illness. A waste protein called β-amyloid forms a “plaque” that coats the neurons in our brains as we age. Cognitive decline results from this plaque’s interference with brain cell communication.

Synchronised electrical cycles, which also aid in regulating the brain’s waste removal, are often responsible for the brain’s smooth operation. However, Prof. Giuseppe Battaglia of the Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia told BBC Science Focus that “this rhythm weakens and becomes chaotic in Alzheimer’s.” The new study does not involve Battaglia.

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It is hypothesised that sound stimulation could resynchronise brain activity and restore timing signals that tell cleaning systems where and when to act.

Sound frequency of 50 hz

Neural cleansing systems remove this plaque more effectively at a frequency of 40 Hz, according to earlier studies on rodents. However, Battaglia claims that this new study “bridges the gap between mice and humans” by demonstrating a comparable impact in primates.

The method was tested on nine old monkeys by a team of scientists from the Chinese Academy of Sciences’ Kunming Institute of Zoology (KIZ). For a week, the sound was played to animals for an hour each day.

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Following the trial, the researchers discovered that the levels of β-amyloid in the cerebrospinal fluid had increased by 200 per cent, indicating that a considerable amount of plaque had been removed.Additionally, the study found that higher levels of β-amyloid persisted for five weeks after the initial effect.

However, Battaglia cautioned against interpreting the study’s findings too broadly, noting that it was brief, had a limited sample size, and focused on biomarkers rather than memory and conduct.

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Battaglia also said it is best seen as a strong clue, not a breakthrough treatment. He stated that although the results are encouraging, only meticulously carried out human trials would demonstrate whether this could “translate into lasting protection of memory.”

If these trials were successful, sound therapy might be a non-invasive, efficient way to treat Alzheimer’s. Even though 55 million individuals worldwide have Alzheimer’s, the most prevalent type of dementia, there is currently no treatment for the condition.

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Is it appropriate to listen to 40Hz music at home? Experts claim that while listening at moderate volume is unlikely to be harmful for most people, there is no evidence that it is beneficial. Certain parameters, like tone structure and volume, were present in the music played during the study.

To put it another way, the study presents early experimental data that are both promising and tentative.

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Alzheimer's

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