Is anyone else experimenting with ALZLIFE? (40-hz light/sound therapy app)
Posted: Fri Nov 08, 2019 4:17 pm
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
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