---
title: "Non-pharmacological approaches in Alzheimer's offer hope!"
description: "Non-pharmacological approaches in Alzheimer's offer hope!"
url: https://uha.com.tr/non-pharmacological-approaches-in-alzheimers-offer-hope
type: article
language: en
last_updated: 2026-04-21
category: saglik
---

## Kaynak ve Yayıncı Bilgisi

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Kaynak: https://uha.com.tr

## ÜHA Hakkında
Üsküdar Haber Ajansı (ÜHA), Türkiye'nin Davranış Bilimleri, Sağlık ve Mühendislik alanlarında
eğitim sunan ilk ve tek tematik üniversitesi olan Üsküdar Üniversitesi bünyesindeki profesyonel
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## NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi
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# Non-pharmacological approaches in Alzheimer's offer hope!

## Bilgi

| Özellik | Değer |
|---------|-------|
| **Kategori** | saglik |
| **Yayın Tarihi** | 2026-04-21 |
| **Güncelleme** | 2026-04-21 |
| **Kaynak** | [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr/non-pharmacological-approaches-in-alzheimers-offer-hope) |

## Özet

Neurology Specialist Dr. Celal Şalçini stated that existing drug treatments for Alzheimer's disease are limited to alleviating symptoms rather than stopping the progression of the disease, and therefore, neuromodulation methods have gained increasing importance in recent years.

## İçerik

Dr. Celal Şalçini, stating that the regulation of brain functions is aimed through physical stimuli such as electricity, magnetic fields, ultrasound, and light, said, “Non-invasive methods like rTMS, tDCS, and TPS can slow down the course of the disease by supporting cognitive functions. It is noted that more effective results can be obtained, especially when applied in the early stages.” Dr. Celal Şalçini emphasized that these methods, although still in the developmental stage, are promising.

Neurology Specialist Dr. Celal Şalçini from Üsküdar University NPİSTANBUL Hastanesi provided information on the current place of non-pharmacological neuromodulation methods such as rTMS, tDCS, ultrasound, light, and 40 Hz stimulation in supporting brain functions and slowing down the progression of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

**Existing treatments do not stop Alzheimer's, they only alleviate symptoms!**

Dr. Celal Şalçini noted that Alzheimer's disease is increasingly emerging as a global public health problem today, stating, “Existing pharmacological treatments, especially acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine, alleviate symptoms to a limited extent and provide a temporary state of well-being, rather than completely stopping the course of the disease.”

![](https://cdn.uha.com.tr/content/images/celal-salciniweb-260421095818.jpg)

Dr. Şalçini stated that although these treatments somewhat slow the progression of the disease, they do not create a significant change in the long-term ultimate outcome of the disease, adding, “While studies on anti-amyloid therapies are promising, they have not yet entered widespread clinical use due to reasons such as side effects, cost-effectiveness, and regulatory approval processes.”

**Neuromodulation therapy increases synaptic plasticity by affecting brain functions! **

At this point, Dr. Celal Şalçini stated that the need for non-pharmacological treatment methods is increasing, with neuromodulation techniques attracting particular attention, saying, “Neuromodulation is a treatment approach that aims to directly affect brain functions using physical methods such as electricity, magnetic fields, light, or sound waves, apart from pharmacological agents. The main goal of these methods is to increase synaptic plasticity, support long-term potentiation, and slow down the progression of brain atrophy. However, the presence of live neuronal tissue is critically important for these treatments to be effective; therefore, early intervention provides a great advantage.”

Sharing the information that Alzheimer's disease is no longer a condition explained solely by protein accumulation, Dr. Şalçini continued:

“It has also begun to be considered a ‘connectivity disease’ (connectopathy). Particularly, disruptions occurring in the Default Mode Network and hippocampal-cortical networks underlie cognitive decline. Neuromodulation techniques aim to strengthen these functional connections by targeting these networks.”

**Among non-invasive methods, rTMS is the most common! **

Dr. Celal Şalçini pointed out that neuromodulation methods are divided into two main groups: invasive and non-invasive, stating, “Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), an invasive method, has yielded effective results especially in movement disorders, but shows limited benefit in Alzheimer's disease and has not yet found widespread use. Similarly, vagal nerve stimulation has been evaluated in a limited number of studies and has not found its place in clinical practice.”

Emphasizing that non-invasive methods are more widely used today, Dr. Şalçini explained, “At the forefront of these is repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). rTMS regulates brain functions by stimulating cortical neurons via magnetic fields applied through the scalp. The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is particularly targeted, and improvements in cognitive functions can be achieved with high-frequency stimulations. While low-frequency applications create an inhibitory effect, high-frequency applications show a stimulatory effect. The use of rTMS in conjunction with cognitive rehabilitation and drug therapies significantly increases treatment effectiveness. With the ‘multi-site rTMS’ approach developed in recent years, the simultaneous stimulation of multiple brain regions is aimed, and more robust results can be obtained.”

**TPS is a method that increases neuroplasticity and can reach deep brain structures! **

Dr. Celal Şalçini stated that transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), another method, regulates neuronal excitability with low-intensity electrical current, saying, “This method, which is easy to apply, portable, and has very low side effects, can provide temporary improvements especially in mild cognitive impairments. tACS, on the other hand, aims to regulate brain rhythms, particularly at a 40 Hz frequency, using alternating current, but limited data is available from human studies yet.”

**Dr. Şalçini also drew attention to ultrasound-based methods, stating:**
随即

“Transcranial Pulse Stimulation (TPS) increases neuroplasticity by stimulating brain tissue with short-duration acoustic pulses and offers the advantage of reaching deep brain structures. Its approval for Alzheimer’s treatment in Europe enhances the clinical importance of this method. Focused ultrasound (FUS), on the other hand, aims to support amyloid clearance by temporarily increasing the permeability of the blood-brain barrier.

The method known as Photobiomodulation improves mitochondrial functions and reduces oxidative stress using near-infrared light. This supports neuronal metabolism, and neurodegenerative processes can be slowed down. Especially when applied in conjunction with cognitive rehabilitation, stronger clinical results are obtained.”

**Neuromodulation: A promising treatment still in its developmental stage! **

Dr. Celal Şalçini also shared information about another approach that has gained prominence in recent years: gamma-frequency (40 Hz) neuromodulation, stating, “This method, which uses visual and auditory stimuli together, is thought to accelerate the clearance of amyloid and tau proteins by increasing microglial activity. Promising results have been obtained in clinical studies regarding the slowing of cognitive decline and the reduction of brain atrophy.”

Evaluating all these methods, Dr. Şalçini emphasized that there is no single standard protocol for dementia treatment, concluding:

“Due to the heterogeneous nature of the disease, the treatment plan is individualized according to the patient’s clinical condition, social circumstances, and access to treatment. The general approach is to use neuromodulation techniques in conjunction with pharmacological treatments and cognitive rehabilitation.

In conclusion, neuromodulation methods are promising, yet still developing, complementary treatment options for Alzheimer's and other types of dementia. These applications, which are more effective when started in the early stages, have the potential to slow the progression of the disease and improve the quality of life. However, more scientific studies are needed regarding their long-term effects, optimal application protocols, and ethical dimensions.”

## Akademik Referans

DOI: [https://doi.org/10.32739/uha.id.88919](https://doi.org/10.32739/uha.id.88919)

---

*Kaynak: [Üsküdar Haber Ajansı](https://uha.com.tr) — https://uha.com.tr/non-pharmacological-approaches-in-alzheimers-offer-hope*