Binaural beats of 40 Hz are not the same as what’s in this video. 40 Hz can mean different things. Iit could mean a single sine wave that oscillates at a frequency of 40 Hz (this would sound like a deep base and is not what is in this video). It could also mean some kind of a sound being turned on and off 40 times per second. That’s what this video sounds like. Then of course we have binoural beets where different frequencies in each ear, differing by 40 Hz, create 40 Hz entrainment in the brain. None of these are the same and I don’t think it’s likely that they will have the same effect. The only thing I would confidently use is exactly what they used in the study.
PS. I used to write electronic music. 
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Interesting you wrote electronic music. I discovered by accident an effect it has, at least on me. Driving generally puts me to sleep, so late at night, coffee, energy drinks, sticking my head out the widow does nothing to keep me awake. Electronic /techno music, however, reverses that and makes me alert. I would never have believed it if I hadn’t experienced this on numerous occasions. There may be subliminal, unknown things that impact the brain in strange ways. Anyone else notice a similar effect?
I have been experimenting lately with the 40 Hz tones, clicks, and binaural beats while using a full-body red light therapy device.
When I use the 40 HZ “clicks” YouTube video that claims to be the MIT study that claims to reduce some of the symptoms of Alzheimer’s I end up feeling somewhat drained and slightly depressed. When I use the 40 HZ binaural beats produced by 200 and 240 HZ tones, it leaves me feeling awakened and more energetic. I have tried this several times and got the same results. I have a two-channel function generator app on my phone that I can use to produce binaural beats of my choice using different waveforms. It can vary the duty cycle of square waves to produce the MIT 40 HZ clicks.
Others are using 40 HZ light, so now we have 40 HZ light, sound, and whole-body vibrations to consider.
“Electroencephalography recordings show that our 40Hz GENUS device safely and effectively induced 40Hz entrainment in participants with mild AD dementia. After 3 months of daily stimulation, the group receiving 40Hz stimulation showed (i) lesser ventricular dilation and hippocampal atrophy, (ii) increased functional connectivity in the default mode network as well as with the medial visual network, (iii) better performance on the face-name association delayed recall test, and (iv) improved measures of daily activity rhythmicity compared to the control group. These results support further evaluation of GENUS in a pivotal clinical trial to evaluate its potential as a novel disease-modifying therapeutic for patients with AD.”
I don’t have any idea if the 40 HZ binaural beats are as effective as the MIT monaural clicks but they are certainly more pleasant in their subjective effects.
There is more than one company claiming 40 HZ light stimulation combined with 40HZ binaural entrainment is effective
MIT is also using light flickering with their audio.
Another study is using 40HZ whole-body vibrations on mice.
“Here, we investigated the effect of whole-body vibrotactile stimulation at 40 Hz on brain pathology and motor function in mouse models of neurodegeneration. We found that vibrotactile stimulation at 40 Hz induced neural activity both in the primary sensory cortex (SSp) and primary motor cortex (MOp).”
"Now, Cognito Therapeutics, a neurotechnology company birthed out of MIT, is pioneering breakthrough technology that may be able to slow the progression of Alzheimer’s and restore cognition. Using a 40 Hz light-flickering and auditory headset they have named “GENUS” (Gamma Entrainment Using Sensory stimuli), a recent pilot clinical trial found that this technology is not only safe and tolerable for home use but also has a positive impact on reducing symptoms associated with age-related neurodegeneration.
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And for the light strobe, best bet seems to be one of these, we can program the frequency and brightness:
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Neo
#15
Looks very serious and the data seems quite strong - including in humans…
Promising results from our Phase 2 study
In our Phase 2 OVERTURE trial, significant slowing of disease progression was observed among treated patients through the preservation of cognition, daily function, and whole brain volume. No serious treatment-limiting adverse events were reported.
Exploring treatment across multiple neurodegenerative diseases
Our treatment received the FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the treatment of cognitive and functional symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease, and we are expanding our approach to many other indications.
We have successfully completed our Phase 2 OVERTURE study and are currently recruiting for our pivotal HOPE study. Patients across multiple clinical studies have completed over 40,000 treatment sessions to date.
Anyone see any paper on the trial?
More outcome data from the trial here:
@adssx any thoughts on this - btw, seems like they are going to try in PD also
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I did notice in the follow up papers that for humans the best frequency was 32-35hz when young and relatively healthy, but 40+hz when old and already clinical of dementia signs. It’s why I’d like to get a device or number of devices that let me adjust the frequency, as more info comes to light.
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adssx
#19
Yes, I “believe” in this. There are many trials done by many serious companies and/or academics around that. Can’t wait for the results!
Anecdotically, I use the YouTube video shared by @desertshores when I want to focus, and it works 
Brain stimulation with 40 Hz music and strobe light promotes removal of toxic amyloid via glymphatic pathways (Nature) - #9 by desertshores
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Neo
#20
besides the MIT group and Cognito therapeutics can you point me to some of the other companies (and academic groups if they are doing any human trials)?
adssx
#21
For dissenting views on this topic see (+ read the comments, including Li-Huei Tsai’s answer): Does Flashing Light Really Lower Cortical Amyloid? 2023
In any case, given the vast number of trials we’ll soon know if it works!
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The part the naysayers might be missing is the best results were seen with multi sensory stimulation—sound, light, vibration / tactile stimulation. Entrainment could be hit or miss with any of them in isolation. I think the devices specifically marketed for this are overkill at this stage — expensive and clunky.
A light strobe, binaural beats, and ideally massage or EMS at the same frequency, with marginal cost for each modality, would be my preferred choice. As I mentioned up thread, 40hz isn’t even ideal for humans, only for AD model mice. My only real concern before I buy the light strobe and massager is…. Do the frequencies need to be in phase with each other? It would obviously be very difficult to sync them in phase without their being controlled from a single central unit. The neck massager actually strikes me at the most likely to yield good results as there’s mechanical stimulation too in the vicinity of the cerebral fluid chambers, which could enhance the effectiveness of the vibration.
Also when it yields a pleasant sensation one is more likely to stick with it as part of a daily routine. And if it only costs something in the neighborhood of $100-200, there’s less reason to wait for the clinical trial before taking a plunge. I actually have a super powerful PEMF device that I could program for 35-40hz and operate it on my head (replaces those clunky transcranial helmets) but can’t do it yet as I’m pregnant.
Neo
#23
Very helpful. Look forward to seeing the data from the trials!!!
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Bicep
#24
You’ve done a lot more reading on this than I have, does it say anywhere what it feels like when it works? How do you know if you’re doing it right? Do people fall asleep? Do they stand or sit? It’s a surprise to me that it works this well.
I’ve seen no account of that. What I read is that it works better with white light (as opposed to other colors) for younger folks at least, better when their eyes were open vs shut, and better when they were performing mentally challenging tasks during the exposure — somehow it helped the entrainment reach the hippocampus.
The mice data suggests that it might work better if the conditions are enjoyable — that if and when the mice found the stimulus stressful or tried to avert it, it negated the benefits. So it helps to want to see the light. If there’s anything to this, I think it would help to layer in massage at the 35-40hz frequency as one element of the “multi sensory” matrix, so the whole thing feels better. Maybe people can work on their Wordle and such while lying down with the neck massager on at the same frequency as the binaural beat entrainment, and the light strobe somewhere in the corner of their visual field. Could be a nice little daily ritual of half hour or so.
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Neo
#28
@AlexKChen Also discussed here
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