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Project

Prolonged transcranial alternating current stimulation leveraging new stimulation paradigms and set-ups as a treatment to promote remyelination in cuprizone treated mice. (FWOAL1017)

The (human) brain has a remarkable innate capacity to self-repair when demyelination occurs. This endogenous mechanism, however, fails in diseases like multiple sclerosis leading to reduced intracortical communication and cognitive disabilities. Currently, no pharmaceutical treatments are available that enhance remyelination. Different recent neuromodulation studies have indicated the potential of non-invasive brain stimulation to enhance (re)myelination in rodents/mice. These studies suggest a potential causal relationship between stronger neuronal oscillations (1-8 Hz) and increased myelination/axon integrity in human brains after meditation. In this study, we will elicit demyelination in mice through the well characterized cuprizone model and provide prolonged neurostimulation using transcranial alternating current stimulation at different frequencies. In parallel, we will develop a novel stimulator design that will allow to stimulate distant brain regions in phase, run a computational study in order to translate the results obtained in mice to the human level and
ensure we have sufficient in-house knowledge to quickly adopt possible future improvements in current delivery. Leveraging neurostimulation to develop novel electroceuticals will require a multi and interdisciplinary approach. This project builds
upon the expertise on electronics and tDCS stimulation present within VUB’s Center for Neurosciences.
Date:1 Jan 2021 →  Today
Keywords:Transcranial electrical stimulation, Remyelination, Cuprizone induced demyelination
Disciplines:Anatomy, Medical biotechnology not elsewhere classified, Neurological and neuromuscular diseases, Other electrical and electronic engineering not elsewhere classified, Physiological biophysics