Potential Therapeutic Effects of Terahertz Radiation on Alzheimer's Disease-like Pathology in the Tau Transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans Model.

Abstract

The application of terahertz waves in the field of neurological disease research has gradually attracted attention in recent years. Prior studies have indicated that terahertz waves are capable of alleviating the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD) in mice, yet the underlying relevant mechanisms remain unclear. This study explores the therapeutic potential of terahertz (THz) radiation on AD using a transgenic Caenorhabditis elegans model expressing human tau protein. The nematodes were subjected to 0.1 THz radiation at varying power levels, and its impact on locomotion, tau protein aggregation, and associative learning was evaluated. Results indicate that 0.1 THz irradiation significantly improved the locomotor performance and associative learning of the tau transgenic nematodes, reduced tau aggregation, and increased the expression of SKN-1 and DAF-16. Molecular dynamics simulation revealed that THz waves inhibited the structural stability of tau protofibrils by reducing the protein compactness, altering the secondary structure, reducing hydrogen bond formation, and changing the hydrophobic interaction. Overall, this study demonstrates the potential of low-frequency THz radiation as a nonpharmacological therapy for AD, highlighting its ability to modulate neuronal function and alleviate disease symptoms.