In Alzheimer's‐like dementia, neurodegeneration and synaptic dysfunction are known to be the critical players in explaining cognitive impairment. Adult neurogenesis, normally a chronic and quiet process, is explained to have potential in the field of Alzheimer's therapy. Previous research on noninvasive brain stimulation showed that by controlling the pattern of stimulation externally, we can regulate/entrain neuronal activity, possibly altering the structural changes at the circuit level. However, literature investigating whether noninvasive brain stimulation could hold any potential to initiate the process of adult neurogenesis is scarce. In the present study, with the use of behavioural, microscopic and biochemical tools, we found that extremely low‐frequency magnetic field at an intensity of 17.96 μT with a sinusoidal wave of 50 Hz for 2 h daily for a period of 2 weeks in a streptozotocin‐induced animal model of sporadic Alzheimer's disease can cause improvement in spatial and reference memory, influencing their swimming strategy in the water maze. This is caused by stimulation in immature neural pluripotent stem cells, with additional redox balance and mitigation of glial aggravation in brain areas like the olfactory bulb, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These changes were accompanied by neuroprotection, as observed in the granular layer of dentate gyrus. Taken together, the present study explains a plausible mechanism of action on the protection of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease through noninvasive brain stimulation.

Background and Aim: Fibromyalgia is an idiopathic chronic widespread pain syndrome affecting 2-4% of the general population globally. Besides widespread fibromyalgia pain, morning stiffness, associated neurologic as well as sleep problems are also reported. Disease is more prevalent in females of middle-age group with low socioeconomic status, thus deteriorating overall productivity and psychosocial health. There is no permanent cure of the disease. This study aimed to explore, validate and assess the effect of four weeks of supervised yogic intervention on pain status, quality of life, sleep, cortical excitability, flexibility and range of motion in fibromyalgia patients, as compared to standard therapy. Method: Case-control study, interventional study and assessor-blined randomized controlled trial, conducted in 120 fibromyalgia patients (60 yoga group: 60 waitlisted controls) and 60 age-matched healthy controls. Pain was assessed subjectively, using questionnaires and objectively, using quantitative sensory testing and ELISA. Sleep and quality of life were assessed using common and disease specific decsiptors. Flexibility and range of motion was assessed using sit and reach box, lateral goniometry and modified Schober’s test. Transcranial magnetic stimulation on M1 was used to assess corticomotor excitability of participants. Study parameters were assessed at baseline and after four weeks of the intervention. Results: A significantly poor sleep, flexibility and quality of life was reported in the fibromyalgia patients due to excruciating pain (VAS = 6.92±0.12); corticomotor function was also abnormal in the patients, which were restored after four weeks of yogic intervention. On subjective and objective assessment of pain, we found significant relief and improvement in pain status in the yoga group as compared to the waitlisted controls. Fibromyalgia impact, sleep, quality of life and flexibility were also found solely better in fibromyalgia patients undergoing yogic interventions. Cortical parameters, specifically RMT, MEPs and MEP recruitment curves showed a significant improvement in yoga group as compared to waitlisted controls. Conclusion: Four weeks of regular and supervised yogic intervention may ameliorate pain, improve flexibility and range of motion and changes cortical plasticity in the Indian cohort of fibromyalgia patients, as compared to standard therapy. Yoga-based interventions can also improve overall quality of life and sleep impairmentsby reducing catastrophization and fibromyalgia impact.

Aasheesh Kumar, MSc., Akanksha Singh, M.D., Uma Kumar, M.D., Renu Bhatia, M.D.. J Rheum Dis -0001;0:. https://doi.org/10.4078/jrd.2024.0002

In Alzheimer’s like dementia, neurodegeneration and synaptic dysfunction is known to the critical player in explaining the cognitive impairment. Adult neurogenesis, normally a chronic and quite process is explained to have potential in the field of Alzheimer’s therapy. Previous research on the non-invasive brain stimulation showed that controlling pattern of stimulation externally we can regulate/ entrain neuronal activity, possibly altering the structural changes in the circuit level. However, literature investigating if non-invasive brain stimulation could hold any potential to initiate process of adult neurogenesis are scarce. In the present study, with the use of behavioural, microscopic and biochemical tools we found that extremely low frequency magnetic field at an intensity of 17.96µT with sinusoidal wave of 50Hz for 2hr daily for a period of two week in streptozotocin induced animal model of sporadic Alzheimer’s disease can cause improvement in spatial and reference memory, influencing their swimming strategy in water maze. Which is caused by stimulation in immature neural pluripotent stem cells, with additional redox balance and mitigation of glial aggravation in brain areas like olfactory bulb, prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These changes were accompanied by neuroprotection as observed in the granular layer of dentate gyrus. Taken together, present study explains plausible mechanism of action on protection of neurodegeneration in Alzheimer’s disease through non-invasive brain stimulation. Graphical Graphical illustration representing external magnetic field causing cognitive improvement eliciting adult neurogenesis in animal model of Alzheimer’s disease