An innovative intervention for the treatment of cognitive impairment–Emisymmetric bilateral stimulation improves cognitive functions in Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment: an open-label study

Abstract

Background and aimsIn the last decade, the development of different methods of brain stimulation by electromagnetic fields (EMF) provides a promising therapeutic tool for subjects with impaired cognitive functions. Emisymmetric bilateral stimulation (EBS) is a novel and innovative EMF brain stimulation, whose working principle is to introduce very weak noise-like stimuli through EMF to trigger self-arrangements in the cortex of treated subjects, thereby improving cognitive faculties. The aim of this pilot study was to investigate in patients with cognitive impairment the effectiveness of EBS treatment with respect to global cognitive function, episodic memory, and executive functions.MethodsFourteen patients with cognitive decline (six with mild cognitive impairment and eight with Alzheimer’s disease) underwent three EBS applications per week to both the cerebral cortex and auricular-specific sites for a total of 5 weeks. At baseline, after 2 weeks and 5 weeks, a neuropsychological assessment was performed through mini–mental state examination, free and cued selective reminding tests, and trail making test. As secondary outcomes, changes in behavior, functionality, and quality of life were also evaluated.ResultsAfter 5 weeks of standardized EBS therapy, significant improvements were observed in all neurocognitive assessments. Mini–mental state examination score significantly increased from baseline to end treatment (+3.19, P=0.002). Assessment of episodic memory showed an improvement both in immediate and delayed recalls (immediate recall =+7.57, P=0.003; delayed recall =+4.78, P<0.001). Executive functions significantly improved from baseline to end stimulation (trail making test A −53.35 seconds; P=0.001). Of note, behavioral disorders assessed through neuropsychiatric inventory significantly decreased (−28.78, P<0.001). The analysis concerning the Alzheimer’s disease and mild cognitive impairment group confirmed a significant improvement of cognitive functions and behavior after EBS treatment.ConclusionThis pilot study has shown EBS to be a promising, effective, and safe tool to treat cognitive impairment, in addition to the drugs presently available. Further investigations and controlled clinical trials are warranted.

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

“…However, two epidemiologic-based human studies have already provided indirect evidence that continued RF exposure via cell phone use could be associated with enhanced cognitive performance (executive function) in normal subjects [ 90 ] and a much reduced risk of hospitalization due to AD and vascular dementia for long-term cell phone users of 10 years or more [ 91 ]. Although involvinga very high 10,500 MHz frequency and extremely low power levels, a recent pilot study administered EMF clinically to AD patients three times a week for 5 weeks, resulting in significant improvement in a variety of cognitive measures [ 92 ]. However, the known inability of such a high EMF frequency to penetrate brain tissue, especially at the extremely low EMF utilized, suggest an unconventional mechanism may be involved in these cognitive benefits.…”

Cognitive Decline: Current Intervention Strategies and Integrative Therapeutic Approaches for Alzheimer’s Disease

“…In humans with cognitive decline, with both MCI and AD, a novel therapeutic tool Emisymmetric bilateral stimulation (EBS) emits noise-like stimuli using EMF to trigger selfarrangements in the cortex, thereby improving cognitive faculties [54]. After only 5 weeks of standardized EBS therapy, significant improvements were observed in all neurocognitive assessments (Mini-metal state examination, assessment of episodic memory, executive functions, and behavioral disorders).…”

“…After only 5 weeks of standardized EBS therapy, significant improvements were observed in all neurocognitive assessments (Mini-metal state examination, assessment of episodic memory, executive functions, and behavioral disorders). Another promising, effective, safe, and non-invasive tool to be used to combat cognitive impairment [54]. Patients with AD can experience impairments in visual memory and visuoconstructive functions.…”

Effectiveness of an Innovative Pulsed Electromagnetic Fields Stimulation in Healing of Untreatable Skin Ulcers in the Frail Elderly: Two Case Reports

“…The EMF noise is obtained creating many harmonics and interferences of electromagnetic weak signals within the exposed body. This is the ideal condition in order to obtain extremely low power electromagnetic noise spread over a wide frequency band, able to stimulate self-feeding and reenhance traveling wave-packets, whose role is involved in biocommunication, homeostasis, and regeneration [ 7 – 9 ].…”