Differentiated Technologies Explained

Understanding the Difference

Alzheimer’s disease is a public health concern which affects the lives of millions of patients and caregivers. While there are FDA-approved drugs that address the symptoms or root causes, they come with significant side effects. Researchers have sought alternative treatments for decades, investigating countless emerging and established medical technologies. To understand our place in this landscape, we present here some of the non-pharmacological technologies and their differences.

  • Transcranial Electromagnetic Treatment with Radio Frequencies (TEMT-RF)

    Method: Ultra-high frequency radio waves

    Purpose: Modulate brain function and cellular activity

    Delivery: Non-invasive wearable headset

    TEMT-RF

  • Audio-Visual Entrainment (AVE)

    Method: Rhythmic auditory and visual stimuli

    Purpose: Influence brainwave activity for relaxation or heightened focus

    Delivery: Specialized glasses and headphones

    AVE

  • Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation (CES)

    Method: Low-level electrical impulses

    Purpose: Regulate mood, sleep, and pain perception

    Delivery: Electrodes affixed to the skin

    CES

  • Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

    Method: Targeted pulses of electricity

    Purpose: Suppress abnormal brain signals associated with various mood disorders

    Delivery: Electrodes surgically implanted into the brain

    DBS

  • Fast Gamma Magnetic Stimulation (FGMS)

    Method: Magnetic fields oscillating at high gamma frequencies

    Purpose: Entrain brain oscillations

    Delivery: Headband-mounted coil

    FGMS

  • Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS)

    Method: Reflections of near-infrared light

    Purpose: Measure changes in blood oxygenation and hemodynamics to infer neural activity

    Delivery: Wearable, potentially portable headset

    fNIRS

  • Gamma Sensory Stimulation

    Method: Video, audio, and/or tactile stimuli at gamma-range frequency

    Purpose: Entrain brain oscillations

    Delivery: Wearable or handheld device

    GSS

  • Light Therapy (Phototherapy)

    Method: Visible light in white or blue frequencies

    Purpose: Influence body processes for sleep, mood, and energy

    Delivery: External light source

    Phototherapy

  • Transcranial Low-Intensity Pulsed-wave Ultrasound (LIPUS)

    Method: Low-intensity pulsed sound waves

    Purpose: Induce mechanical and thermal effects on brain tissue

    Delivery: Monitored external transducer

    LIPUS

  • Microcurrent Electrical Therapy (MET)

    Method: Very low-intensity electrical currents

    Purpose: Promote cellular repair and reduce pain

    Delivery: Electrodes placed on the skin

    MET

  • Photobiomodulation (PBM)

    Method: Red or near-infrared light

    Purpose: Stimulate mitochondrial activity and reduce inflammation

    Delivery: External, wearable, or internasal device

    PBM

  • Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy (PEMF)

    Method: Low-frequency electromagnetic pulses

    Purpose: Stimulate cellular repair

    Delivery: Full-body or targeted devices

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  • Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS)

    Method: Direct, unidirectional electrical currents

    Purpose: Modulate brain activity and enhance neuroplasticity

    Delivery: Two electrodes on the scalp

    tDCS

  • Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS)

    Method: Low-voltage electrical currents

    Purpose: Stimulate nerves and manage pain

    Delivery: Electrodes placed on the skin

    TENS

  • Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS)

    Method: Magnetic fields

    Purpose: Stimulate cortical nerve cells

    Delivery: External magnetic coil

    TMS

Technology:

Transcranial Electromagnetic Treatment with Radio Frequencies
(TEMT-RF)

Medium:

Ultra-high frequency radio waves

Purpose:

Modulate brain function and cellular activity

Delivery:

Non-invasive wearable headset

Technology:

Audio-Visual Entrainment
(AVE)

Medium:

Rhythmic auditory and visual stimuli

Purpose:

Influence brainwave activity for relaxation or heightened focus

Delivery:

Specialized glasses and headphones

Technology:

Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation
(CES)

Medium:

Low-level electrical impulses

Purpose:

Regulate mood, sleep, and pain perception

Delivery:

Electrodes affixed to the skin

Technology:

Deep Brain Stimulation
(DBS)

Medium:

Targeted pulses of electricity

Purpose:

Suppress abnormal brain signals associated with various mood disorders

Delivery:

Electrodes surgically implanted into the brain

Technology:

Fast Gamma Magnetic Stimulation
(FGMS)

Medium:

Magnetic fields oscillating at high gamma frequencies

Purpose:

Entrain brain oscillations

Delivery:

Headband-mounted coil

Technology:

Functional Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
(fNIRS)

Medium:

Reflections of near-infrared light

Purpose:

Measure changes in blood oxygenation and hemodynamics to infer neural activity

Delivery:

Wearable, potentially portable headset

Technology:

Gamma Sensory Stimulation
(GSS)

Medium:

Video, audio, and/or tactile stimuli at gamma-range frequency

Purpose:

Entrain brain oscillations

Delivery:

Wearable or handheld device

Technology:

Light Therapy
(Phototherapy)

Medium:

Visible light in white or blue frequencies

Purpose:

Influence body processes for sleep, mood, and energy

Delivery:

External light source

Technology:

Transcranial Low-Intensity Pulsed-Wave Ultrasound
(LIPUS)

Medium:

Low-intensity pulsed sound waves

Purpose:

Induce mechanical and thermal effects on brain tissue

Delivery:

Monitored external transducer

Technology:

Microcurrent Electrical Therapy
(MET)

Medium:

Very low-intensity electrical currents

Purpose:

Promote cellular repair and reduce pain

Delivery:

Electrodes placed on the skin

Technology:

Photobiomodulation
(PBM)

Medium:

Red or near-infrared light

Purpose:

Stimulate mitochondrial activity and reduce inflammation

Delivery:

External, wearable, or internasal device

Technology:

Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy
(PEMF)

Medium:

Low-frequency electromagnetic pulses

Purpose:

Stimulate cellular repair

Delivery:

Full-body or targeted devices

Technology:

Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation
(tDCS)

Medium:

Direct, unidirectional electrical currents

Purpose:

Modulate brain activity and enhance neuroplasticity

Delivery:

Two electrodes on the scalp

Technology:

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
(TENS)

Medium:

Low-voltage electrical currents

Purpose:

Stimulate nerves and manage pain

Delivery:

Electrodes placed on the skin

Technology:

Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation
(TMS)

Medium:

Magnetic fields

Purpose:

Stimulate cortical nerve cells

Delivery:

External magnetic coil