Is anyone else experimenting with ALZLIFE? (40-hz light/sound therapy app)

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Morazan
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Is anyone else experimenting with ALZLIFE? (40-hz light/sound therapy app)

Post by Morazan »

There have been several radio shows and articles appearing recently about using 40-hz flashing "gamma" lights and audio clicks to re-set and "clear out" the brains of mice with Alzheimery brains. As a double Apoe4, age 55, naturally I was interested. So I downloaded an app called "AlzLife" (https://www.alz.life/) and I have been experimenting with it. I would be interesting in hearing from others who are doing the same. It costs $9 a month so I thought I would try it for a month. I don't see it as a magic pill, but one of the dozens of interventions that "maybe might do something."

The first thing to know is that it ONLY works on a relatively new IPad Pro. That is the ONLY device that has a sufficiently high refresh rate to deliver "real" 40-hz pulses, so don't waste your money if you don't have one. The silly games and discount coupon for a table lamp are are NOT worth buying the app for.

Well, after 2 evenings of using it, here are my random thoughts and questions. Of course, no one knows the answers, but I'd be interested in your opinions. The makers provide no information, except links to some of the articles which I've included below.

AUDIO ASPECT: I have bluetooth headphones, so I have been playing the clicks as I fall asleep. If I did fall asleep with the clicks playing in my ears all night long, would that be harmful? Is the idea to set the volume as high as you can stand, or is it supposed to be subtle? Would playing the audio clicks while you are taking an outdoor walk be useful, or should audio and visual always be combined?

LIGHT THERAPY ASPECT: Are you supposed to hold the screen close to your face and stare directly into the pulsating light? I find it comfortable to do so, but not for a full hour. (And I worry about my retinas -- I've had torn spots repaired in both eyes.) Are you you supposed to do the light therapy in the pitch dark? Or do you set it up a distance from yourself and read a book? The researchers got the best results when they put electrodes directly into the mouse brains, so I doubt that having mere ambient light would be very effective at reaching the brain. (Long term, a better solution would be to have a setting on the IPad itself, to pulsate at 40-hz while you are using it to do other things.) Has anyone played the built-in games? Most of them are clearly not ready for prime time, but I did find the "fit the shapes into the square" game challenging. Now, if they could build Words With Friends into it, that would be an easy way to pass an hour.

Most important last question: Is there a danger of a kick-back reaction, so that you end up worse if you "fire up" your brain waves for a month, and then quit? I don't see why it would be any different than exercising for a month and then stopping. But the body works in mysterious ways.

I look forward to hearing your educated opinions. Not too technical, please. M.

P.S. Here are relevant links:
https://www.sciencefriday.com/segments/ ... mers-cure/
https://www.nytimes.com/2019/03/14/heal ... &smtyp=cur
https://www.scientificamerican.com/arti ... rs-at-bay/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6130417/
viewtopic.php?f=16&t=5972
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/alzheimer ... 1327175926
hairyfairy
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Re: Is anyone else experimenting with ALZLIFE? (40-hz light/sound therapy app)

Post by hairyfairy »

I tried the light and sound on youtube. I found it a bit unpleasant having to sit in front of a flashing light listening to that noise, so I didn`t do it more than 4 or 5 times.
Morazan
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Re: Is anyone else experimenting with ALZLIFE? (40-hz light/sound therapy app)

Post by Morazan »

I don't think staring at a video would have the same effect. Here is a good discussion of the difference between tones and clicks, and what the various studies have used, and advice about the use of a sub-woofer, and more. I find it fascinating. The military already uses brain stimulation during deep sleep to promote memory retention, so there is a lot to be explored in this area. https://blog.szynalski.com/2018/03/40-h ... lzheimers/
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Re: Is anyone else experimenting with ALZLIFE? (40-hz light/sound therapy applectable

Post by redryder »

we have been using it for about a week now; it’s a lot easier to keep interest high, due to the wide variety of games available , and the electable range of difficulty. The flashing lights very rapidly become not even noticed, due to becoming engaged and immersed in the various games. There’s truly something for every one, and it provides a very enjoyable experience. Benefits? According to the research I’ve done online, they will accrue, but it’s far too soon to tell. 😊
Caregiver to 3/4 spouse w/MCI; following ReCoDe protocol as best we can (bofus)...
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redryder
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Re: Is anyone else experimenting with ALZLIFE? (40-hz light/sound therapy applectable

Post by redryder »

we have been using it for about a week now; it’s a lot easier to keep interest high, due to the wide variety of games available , and the electable range of difficulty. The flashing lights very rapidly become not even noticed, due to becoming engaged and immersed in the various games. There’s truly something for every one, and it provides a very enjoyable experience. Benefits? According to the research I’ve done online, they will accrue, but it’s far too soon to tell. 😊
Caregiver to 3/4 spouse w/MCI; following ReCoDe protocol as best we can (bofus)...
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Re: Is anyone else experimenting with ALZLIFE? (40-hz light/sound therapy app)

Post by Tiramisu1984 »

At $9 a month, worth trying. I’d greatly prefer listening to delta waves than playing games though.
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Re: Is anyone else experimenting with ALZLIFE? (40-hz light/sound therapy app)

Post by Carolina mind »

I just started it last night, on the advice of my Bredesen-trained functional medicine doc. For an app you pay for, I was dismayed by the lack of instructions provided. I have a number of questions too, and very few answers to the questions you raised.
Answer: I did read somewhere that the light needs to hit the fovea, the central part of the retina. So I doubt that looking at something else would work.
My questions:
1) How far from the screen should your eyes be? I am using a newer refurbished Mac laptop that my husband bought for about the same price as a new iPad ($800). My laptop and both his and my iPhones are too old for this app.
2) I gather that there is no way to get the audio except by playing the games--is that correct?
3) How do you play Jewel Crush? I never played Facebook games (like Candy Crush), but the only ones I'm familiar with are Tic Tac Toe or solitaire, which seem very boring. I was really irritated to find no instructions to games completely new to me! I am paying for this and doing it because I not only have genetic predisposition to AD, but also have some (mild) cognitive decline, as do, presumably, a number of those who would purchase this app! Come on, alzlife, do ya think just maybe your population needs some directions?!
I have been impressed with Posit Science's Brain Games, and the research backing them. The games, like those focused on Divided Attention, are much more closely keyed to the deficits I'm experiencing. I am loathe to trade those for AlzLife's games, just to get the 40 Hz sound (and with an apparent need to also get special speakers or headphones!)
4) Therefore, I wonder if I could use an independent online (free) app (saw one from "BME" on YouTube) for sound alone. Does anyone know of a verified-to-be legitimate free source of the 40 Hz sound? And one that could be listened to with just my Mac's speakers?

Thanks, and really glad to see that there are other "pioneers" in this new and seemingly promising technique.
Last edited by Carolina mind on Wed May 24, 2023 9:04 pm, edited 1 time in total.
jerryb
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Re: Is anyone else experimenting with ALZLIFE? (40-hz light/sound therapy app)

Post by jerryb »

I have been using this with my wife for about three years. Until quite recently we felt her deterioration was less than would’ve expected. See my previous posts. JerryB
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