New therapeutic approach for depression
Sandra Siegert is researching at the ISTA in Klosterneuburg how light pulses with a frequency of 60 hertz affect mental illnesses
from
Contents
The function of our brain is extremely complex. While the importance of nerve cells has long been extensively researched, relatively little is still known about the immune cells in the brain. To find out more about this, Sandra Siegert and her team are researching the so-called microglia in the brain. “For a long time, it was assumed that these were just macrophages that sit in the brain and are activated in the event of brain injuries or infections, for example,” explains the researcher. “However, in recent years we have discovered that they have significantly more functions. For example, they constantly scan nerve cells and check their connections.”
Fighting Depression with 60 Hertz
In experiments, the scientist determined how certain drugs, especially the anesthetic ketamine, affect the nervous system. Siegert discovered that microglia are activated when waking up from anesthesia. “We found that the activated microglia did not change the nervous system, but rather adapted the external structure of nerve cells, thereby making it possible to build new neuronal connections,” explains the researcher. A mechanism that plays a role in the development of neurological diseases from Alzheimer’s to ADHD.
With the discovery came the idea of using this knowledge as a therapeutic approach for illnesses such as depression. However, since ketamine is not optimal for long-term treatment, further research was carried out. A 60-hertz pulse was found while measuring neuronal activity in the brain.
Glasses instead of medication
The team is now designing glasses that emit light pulses at a frequency of 60 hertz. Positive results have already been achieved in animal models. Phase two of the study is currently underway and Siegert is confident that these glasses will soon be used as a way to treat depression.
This article originally appeared in the News print edition No. 45/2024.
The researcher
Sandra Siegert
After studying biology at the University of Frankfurt am Main, she moved to Basel to do her dissertation. Siegert conducted post-doc research at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) in Boston. In 2015, she finally joined the ISTA in Klosterneuburg as an assistant professor. She is now a professor and co-founder of Syntropic Medical GmbH