Beijing: Chinese researchers have found that a simple, non-invasive sound therapy could offer a promising new approach to treating Alzheimer's disease, according to a study reported by Xinhua. The research, published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), was led by scientists from the Kunming Institute of Zoology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

According to Philippines News Agency, the study focused on the effects of a 40-hertz auditory tone-a low-frequency sound within the range of human hearing. Nine aged rhesus monkeys, whose brains naturally develop Alzheimer's-like plaques, were exposed to the sound for one hour daily over a week. The results demonstrated that levels of Alzheimer's-related waste proteins in the monkeys' cerebrospinal fluid more than doubled, indicating improved clearance of toxic substances from the brain. Notably, these beneficial effects were still present five weeks after the treatment ended.

Lead researcher Hu Xintian highlighted the significance of the findings, noting that they demonstrate long-lasting effects in non-human primates for the first time. The study suggests that compared to current drug treatments, which can be costly and carry side effects, sound therapy offers a safer and more affordable potential alternative.