Temporal Interference Stimulation Enhances Neural Regeneration
Neural regeneration therapies aim to treat neurodegeneration by promoting the proliferation and maturation of exogenous or endogenous neural progenitor cells (NPCs). However, their efficacy has been limited. Deep brain stimulation (DBS) via implanted electrodes has been shown to promote neurogenesis in vitro and in vivo. Still, its invasiveness precludes deployment in research and widespread clinical use. Temporal interference (TI) has emerged as a strategy for non-invasive, high-precision DBS using multiple kHz-range electric fields to target the deep brain. Here, we validate the potential of TI stimulation for neural regeneration augmentation in the central nervous system (CNS). First, we showed that TI stimulation modulated at the theta-band frequency enhances the maturation of embryonic neural progenitor cells in vitro. We then demonstrate that theta-band TI stimulation targeting the hippocampus enhances endogenous hippocampal neurogenesis in an in vivo mouse model of Alzheimer's disease-like amyloidosis. By uncovering frequency-specific control of stem cell fate, we propose a clinically relevant regeneration strategy that avoids pharmacological or genetic manipulation. Our results enable focal, non-invasive augmentation of deep-brain neural regeneration via electrical stimulation.
Authors
- Karen Duff (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6177-868X)
- Rylie A. Green (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1569-7288)
- Patrycja Dzialecka (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0005-0081-4682)
- Nir Grossman (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2002-9049)
- Maria Otero‐Jimenez (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0008-0714-8696)
- Bethany Geary (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5592-5532)
- Maria Garcia Garrido (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2656-6382)
- Martina Genta (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3873-2840)
- Marcelina J. Wojewska (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0004-9287-6006)
- Shirine Merlo-Nikpay Aslie
- Elena Faillace (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0009-0001-9939-7508)
- Rachel Man Hoi Law
- Luqiao Tan
- Javier Alegre‐Abarrategui (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5958-7753)
- Roberto Portillo‐Lara (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1781-3126)
- Sofia Peressott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3474-6807)
Institutions
- University of Geneva (CH)
- University of Dundee (GB)
- Hammersmith Hospital (GB)
- University Hospital of Geneva (CH)
- MRC Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit (GB)
- UK Dementia Research Institute (GB)
- University College London (GB)
- Imperial College London (GB)
- Medical Research Council (GB)
Publication Details
- Journal
- Advanced Science
- Published
- 2026-04-28
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202524341
- Primary Topic
- Planarian Biology and Electrostimulation
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00
Funders
- National Institute for Health and Care Research
- UK Dementia Research Institute
- Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council
- European Research Council
- NIHR Imperial Biomedical Research Centre