40 Hz vibrotactile stimulation ameliorates amyloid pathology and cognitive deficits in 5xFAD mice and is associated with alterations in Piezo1, ERK, and GSK-3β/p65 signaling
5 affiliations
- 1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Goyang-si, 10326, Republic of Korea
- 2Department of AI Convergence Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Goyang-si, 10326, Republic of Korea
- 3Department of AI Convergence Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Goyang-si, 10326, Republic of Korea; AriBio Co., Ltd., 56 Dongpangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, 13535, Republic of Korea
- 4AriBio Co., Ltd., 56 Dongpangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, 13535, Republic of Korea
- 5Department of Biomedical Engineering, Dongguk University, Goyang-si, 10326, Republic of Korea; Corresponding author
Abstract
40 Hz vibrotactile stimulation (VTS) is an emerging non-invasive therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet its specific mechanisms regarding amyloid-beta (Aβ) metabolism remain unclear. Six-month-old 5xFAD mice received daily 40 Hz VTS for four weeks. We assessed cognitive function, Aβ pathology, and underlying molecular pathways. VTS improved spatial learning and recognition memory, whereas no significant improvement was observed in short-term spatial working memory. VTS reduced hippocampal Aβ plaque burden and cortical soluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels, accompanied by decreased expression of APP, BACE1, and PS1 and increased expression of ADAM10 and IDE. It further attenuated neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and produced changes in cholinergic and synaptic plasticity-associated proteins. VTS increased hippocampal Piezo1 expression and ERK phosphorylation, increased inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK-3β at Ser9, decreased p65 phosphorylation, and reduced tau phosphorylation. 40 Hz VTS ameliorates several cognitive and neuropathological features of AD in 5xFAD mice. These improvements are associated with the modulation of Piezo1, ERK, and GSK-3β/p65 signaling pathways, highlighting its potential as a promising non-invasive AD therapeutic strategy.
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BibTeX
@article{nam2026vibrotactile,
title = {{40 Hz vibrotactile stimulation ameliorates amyloid pathology and cognitive deficits in 5xFAD mice and is associated with alterations in Piezo1, ERK, and GSK-3β/p65 signaling}},
author = {Myeong-Hyun Nam and Hee-Jung Park and Hee-Yeon Lee and Zu-Yu Chen and Hee-Deok Yun and Yuna Kim and Ju-Yeong Lee and Chang-Ho Shin and Jae-Young Ha and Young-Kwon Seo},
journal = {Neurotherapeutics},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1016/j.neurot.2026.e01077},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurot.2026.e01077},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - 40 Hz vibrotactile stimulation ameliorates amyloid pathology and cognitive deficits in 5xFAD mice and is associated with alterations in Piezo1, ERK, and GSK-3β/p65 signaling
AU - Myeong-Hyun Nam
AU - Hee-Jung Park
AU - Hee-Yeon Lee
AU - Zu-Yu Chen
AU - Hee-Deok Yun
AU - Yuna Kim
AU - Ju-Yeong Lee
AU - Chang-Ho Shin
AU - Jae-Young Ha
AU - Young-Kwon Seo
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/24
JO - Neurotherapeutics
DO - 10.1016/j.neurot.2026.e01077
UR - https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neurot.2026.e01077
AB - 40 Hz vibrotactile stimulation (VTS) is an emerging non-invasive therapy for Alzheimer's disease (AD), yet its specific mechanisms regarding amyloid-beta (Aβ) metabolism remain unclear. Six-month-old 5xFAD mice received daily 40 Hz VTS for four weeks. We assessed cognitive function, Aβ pathology, and underlying molecular pathways. VTS improved spatial learning and recognition memory, whereas no significant improvement was observed in short-term spatial working memory. VTS reduced hippocampal Aβ plaque burden and cortical soluble Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels, accompanied by decreased expression of APP, BACE1, and PS1 and increased expression of ADAM10 and IDE. It further attenuated neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and produced changes in cholinergic and synaptic plasticity-associated proteins. VTS increased hippocampal Piezo1 expression and ERK phosphorylation, increased inhibitory phosphorylation of GSK-3β at Ser9, decreased p65 phosphorylation, and reduced tau phosphorylation. 40 Hz VTS ameliorates several cognitive and neuropathological features of AD in 5xFAD mice. These improvements are associated with the modulation of Piezo1, ERK, and GSK-3β/p65 signaling pathways, highlighting its potential as a promising non-invasive AD therapeutic strategy.
SN - 1878-7479
SN - 1933-7213
ER -