ArticleJournal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD2025
Preliminary study of sex-based neural responses and cognitive benefits of a 40 Hz rhythmic light intervention in mild cognitive impairment.
Article in Journal of Alzheimer's disease : JAD, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
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Who cites it
2 citing papers in PubMed.
- Neurobiological mechanisms of 40-Hz stimulation in Alzheimer's disease: evidence, heterogeneity, and constraints.Alzheimer's & dementia : the journal of the Alzheimer's Association · 2026Review
- Light-based 40 Hz sensory therapy for brain disorders: physiological basis, therapeutic mechanisms, and future prospects.Frontiers in medicine · 2026Review
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
BackgroundSex differences in the brain's structure, function, and response to interventions are increasingly recognized as critical factors in neurodegenerative diseases like mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease.ObjectiveThis study investigated sex differences in brain activity among participants classified as having MCI (based on Montreal Cognitive Assessment scores) during exposure to a 40 Hz rhythmic light (RL) intervention versus a control RL condition.MethodsTwenty-four participants in the MCI group (mean age = 74.5 years, SD = 9.06; 15 women, 9 men) and 16 age-matched healthy controls (mean age = 70 years, SD = 8.97; 9 women, 7 men) were exposed to both light conditions and underwent electroencephalography recordings, cognitive performance testing (2-back task), and a subjective assessment of sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale).Results40 Hz RL increased gamma power significantly, indicating its potential to enhance brain function, especially in the MCI group. Men showed greater neural response and better cognitive performance under the 40 Hz RL while women (particularly in the MCI group) responded more strongly to the control. The sleepiness results were not significant.ConclusionsThere is compelling evidence that 40 Hz RL has sex-dependent effects on gamma oscillations and cognitive performance, particularly in individuals with MCI. Men may benefit more directly from gamma-enhancing interventions, whereas women may require alternative approaches that account for their unique neural responses to light. Further research with larger, more diverse populations is needed to confirm these findings and explore the potential for personalized therapeutic strategies based on sex and cognitive status.
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