Antis Neuroscience Unveils Proprietary rDMS Therapy Targeting Sleep and Alzheimer's Disease Prevention

Sleep disorders are among the most common neurological conditions. According to data from the “2024 White Paper on Sleep Health of Chinese Residents,” the overall sleep status of residents in China is far from optimistic, with 64% of respondents reporting poor sleep quality and 59% experiencing symptoms of insomnia.while only 19% of the population had no sleep disorders at all。

Sleep disorders can not only lead to poor mental state and low mood the following day, affecting daily life, but long-term sleep problems can also have adverse effects on psychological and physical health, increasing the risk of mental illnesses such as depression and anxiety. In addition,Studies have suggested that neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease (hereinafter referred to as AD), may be associated with sleep disorders.

In 2013, a paper published in Science magazine revealed that researchers found the perivascular space of cerebral blood vessels in experimental animals expanded by 60% during sleep.Expanded spaces facilitate the clearance of metabolic waste from the brain.. Given that the characteristic pathological hallmarks of Alzheimer's disease (AD) are the deposition of beta-amyloid and hyperphosphorylation of Tau protein, researchers believe that quality sleep can help clear “waste” from the brain, thereby contributing to the prevention and treatment of AD.

This study caused a sensation, and since then, researchers have continued to focus on this field. For example, in an article published on August 25, 2020, in the journal Frontiers in Neuroscience, the bidirectional relationship between sleep disorders and inflammation was discussed, emphasizing the role of microglia and cytokines in sleep disorders associated with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). A vast body of research has demonstrated from various perspectives thatSlow-Wave Sleep (Deep Sleep) Is Inextricably Linked to Cerebrospinal Fluid Flushing of the Brain’s Extracellular Environment。

Thus, improving sleep quality may emerge as a novel strategy for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). However, current clinical management of sleep disorders primarily relies on pharmacological interventions, such as hypnotics. Long-term medication use may lead to drug dependence, diminished therapeutic efficacy over time, and adverse effects including sleep disturbances and memory decline.

In 2018, the Ministry of Science and Technology launched a key R&D program project titled “Research on Key Technologies and Clinical Applications of Neuromodulation and Intelligent Rehabilitation for Alzheimer’s Disease.” A Tsinghua University graduateZheng YunfengHe is a member of the project research team. With nearly two decades of dedication to brain science research and the prevention and treatment of brain disorders, he possesses profound expertise in neuromodulation and the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). He recognizes the urgent need to provide safe, effective, cost-efficient, and home-use solutions for the prevention and treatment of AD.

AsAntis Brain Science Research Institute (Beijing) Co., Ltd.(hereinafter referred to as “Antis”) founder, Zheng Yunfeng, has established long-term collaborations with experts and scholars in the fields of bioelectronics and brain science, determined to forge a new path for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) starting from sleep.

As the aging of society deepens, the number of individuals affected by Alzheimer's disease (AD) continues to rise.

According to the "China Alzheimer's Disease Report 2024," the number of prevalent cases of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and other dementias in China exceeded 16.99 million in 2021, with prevalence, mortality, and other related metrics rising steadily with age. The overwhelming burden of AD patients has imposed significant economic costs and healthcare pressures on society. Consequently, numerous research teams worldwide are focusing on AD in an effort to identify more effective solutions.

First,PharmacotherapyReducing or clearing toxic amyloid-beta (Aβ) proteins in the brain through pharmacological intervention to improve cognitive function represents the mainstream therapeutic approach in current drug development. Lecanemab is the first Aβ-targeting monoclonal antibody approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) via the traditional approval pathway, and it has also received marketing authorization from China’s National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) for the treatment of mild cognitive impairment and mild dementia due to Alzheimer’s disease. However, these medications are not inexpensive; the annual cost per patient is approximately RMB 180,000 (based on a unit price of RMB 2,508 per vial, administered once every two weeks, with three vials per dose). Furthermore, therapeutic efficacy varies among individuals, and elderly patients with multiple comorbidities require careful consideration of potential drug–drug interactions between treatments for different chronic conditions.

Moreover, a greater number of drugs are still in the research, development, and testing stages. The primary challenge in developing medications for brain disorders is that the blood-brain barrier prevents many drugs from reaching neurons and neural circuits. Therefore,Neuromodulation has always been an indispensable, and even preferred, solution in the field of brain diseases.

Neuromodulation involves influencing the activity of brain neurons or neural circuits through physical modalities such as sound, light, electricity, and magnetism. Neuromodulation technologies can regulate the function of neural networks, enhance neuroplasticity, and thereby improve cognitive functions such as memory. Such products encompass various brain stimulation techniques, including transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), and deep brain stimulation (DBS).

In fact, for neurological disorders such as severe Parkinson’s disease or treatment-resistant depression, clinical practice has already seen cases treated with Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), which involves implanting electrodes into deep brain regions. In the field of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), related research is emerging in abundance, and some companies are even attempting to commercialize neuromodulation interventions for AD. For instance, Cognito Therapeutics, a U.S. company that recently completed a $108 million Series B financing round, treats Alzheimer’s disease using proprietary gamma-frequency light and sound stimulation. It has currently completed Phase II clinical trials and is poised to initiate Phase III clinical trials.

Furthermore, major medical device giants such as Medtronic, Johnson & Johnson, and Siemens Healthineers have all entered this field. It is evident that neuromodulation interventions for Alzheimer’s disease (AD) have garnered significant attention.

Currently, there have been successful cases in both theoretical and commercial aspects of non-pharmacological neuromodulation interventions for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). Zheng Yunfeng has also focused his attention on this field. However, unlike other stimulation modes, the Antis team has developed a safer and more precise method with rhythmic capabilities that can reach deep brain regions.Low-Intensity Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation(rhythmic Deep brain reachable low field transcranial Magnetic Stimulation, hereinafter referred to as rDMS).

With continuous advancements in the fields of neuroscience and brain science, researchers have gained an increasingly profound understanding of the patterns of electroencephalogram (EEG) activity. Studies have revealed that the low-gamma frequency band plays a critical role in regulating cognitive functions such as attention, perception, memory, and consciousness. Abnormalities in the low-gamma band are associated with cognitive impairments, including sleep disorders and declines in memory and other cognitive abilities, and may even manifest as psychiatric symptoms such as anxiety and depression.

Meanwhile, the rhythmic deep brain-accessible rDMS developed by Antis can release magnetic pulses consistent with the low-gamma frequency band rhythm. Through electromagnetic coupling and biological resonance, it pulls abnormal brainwaves back to a normal state, thereby improving cognitive function.

Although modulation of EEG frequency bands via magnetic stimulation has already seen clinical application, Antis’s rDMS differs significantly from other magnetic stimulation methods. This technologySafer, More Effective, and Cost-Effective。

First, rDMS offers superior therapeutic efficacy. Unlike traditional light, electrical, and acoustic stimulation,Magnetic stimulation can penetrate biological tissues without attenuation., achieving deep brain stimulation through the design of coil structures to attain superior stimulation efficacy.

Traditionally, the targets of neuromodulation are typically anatomical spatial locations, whereas Antis’s proprietary rDMS targets GABAergic neural circuits.Closer to Pharmacological Targets. The so-called "target" refers to an effector that can respond to intervention and alter the disease course (by reversing, halting, or delaying it), which may include genes, proteins, cells, neural circuits, etc.

The Antis team discovered during their research that the vulnerability and impairment of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons may lead to various symptoms in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) patients, including early-stage insomnia, mid-stage hippocampal hyperexcitability, and late-stage seizures. Therefore, enhancing the functional activity of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons across the entire brain, particularly in deep brain regions, during the early stages can ameliorate these neurological issues.Antis has identified the functional activity of GABAergic inhibitory interneurons as a therapeutic target, thereby enabling more precise and personalized treatment.

Furthermore, rDMS targets the functional activity of GABAergic neural circuits, achieving its therapeutic goals with only very weak magnetic field intensities and without the need for spatial localization. It not only outperforms traditional magnetic stimulation in efficacy but is also simpler and safer to operate. Patients can administer the treatment themselves at home without supervision by professional medical personnel, making it particularly suitable for long-term intervention scenarios such as the prevention and management of Alzheimer’s disease (AD).

Moreover, since rDMS does not require high-intensity stimulation energy, compared with traditional magnetic stimulation techniquesMore Affordable Pricing, thereby reducing the financial burden on patients. The lower cost also enables more primary healthcare institutions, and even patients’ homes, to be equipped with relevant therapeutic devices, improving treatment accessibility and allowing more patients to receive such therapy.

When discussing the scientific research progress of rDMS, Zheng Yunfeng said excitedly, “We have long-term collaborations with many outstanding scientists and medical experts both in China and abroad. These papers represent research findings independently completed by them in their respective laboratories and hospitals, driven purely by scientific interest, and have been published in renowned journals both domestically and internationally.” It is reported that the Antis teamFive invention patents have been applied for., of which three have been granted, and two are in the international application and substantive examination stages. Among the three granted invention patents, two have also obtained international patent grants in the United States, Canada, South Korea, and India, representing internationally leading technologies.

As of now, Antis has completed the medical device registration for the Antis-type transcranial magnetic stimulation system.Type Testing. This combination product includes sleep monitoring devices and personalized EEG modulation devices,Achieved a closed loop from sleep sign monitoring and intelligent intervention to effect evaluation.

Improving sleep quality and treating sleep disorders are only the first steps for Antis. Based on the platform technology of the Antis-type magnetic stimulation system, Antis will nextTargeting early intervention and effective treatment for neuropsychiatric disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and depression.Existing clinical study results indicate that rDMS can effectively improve cognition, activities of daily living, and neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and also achieve a high rate of clinical remission in the treatment of refractory depression.

In the future, Antis will initiate confirmatory multicenter randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to demonstrate that the Antis-type magnetic stimulation system can effectively treat Alzheimer’s disease (AD), reduce the risk of developing AD, and delay its onset, as well as effectively treat depression and prevent its recurrence. Moving forward, Antis will also collaborate with overseas companies to contribute Chinese solutions to the prevention and treatment of major brain disorders in humans.