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Authors & Affiliations
Dilana Hazer-Rau
Abstract
Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) is a non-invasive procedure for the treatment of patients with Alzheimer's disease. Alzheimer is the most current form of dementia, affecting millions of patients worldwide. As a neurodegenerative disease, it is associated with a progressive degradation process in the brain, leading to cognitive and functional impairment. Various forms of standard therapies are currently used to slow down the progression of the disease. However, their effective benefits and possible side effects should always be weighted up prior prescription. TPS is a relatively new drug-free procedure that can be used as an add-on treatment option to standard therapies. In TPS smooth low-energy shock waves, so-called TPS pulses, are generated and delivered in a non-invasive focused way to the brain regions typically affected by Alzheimer's disease. As a neurostimulation method, the goal of TPS is to stimulate deep brain tissue and regenerate nerve cells and cell functions as well as improve vascularization within the brain. Various studies were recently conducted on the effects and safety of this new treatment method. In this overview, we describe the physical principles and the mechanotransduction effects of low-energy TPS treatment, and we report on current data related to the application of TPS for patients with Alzheimer's disease including clinical effects and safety issues.