00:00 - Andy Smith (Disclaimer)
A quick disclaimer before we begin. The PEMF podcast does not contain any medical advice, and the content provided is for informational purposes only. If you have any health concerns, please visit a healthcare professional.

0:14 - Andy Smith
Welcome back to The PEMF Podcast. Today we’re talking about a condition that has a huge impact on families all over the world, Alzheimer’s. If you’ve ever known someone living with memory loss or cognitive decline, you’ll know how tough it can be, both for them and for the people around them. In this episode, we’re going to look at where PEMF could fit into the wider conversation on brain health and treatment of Alzheimer’s. So today we’re going to dig into the science, the studies, and some practical ways PEMF is being looked at as part of a brain-support toolkit.

0:38 - Joshua Roberts

So today we are going to look at the science, the studies and some practical ways that PEMF can be used in a brain support tool kit. But I think a good place to start with this would to be to explain what actually is Alzheimer’s?

0:50 - Andy Smith

Yeah sure so. Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia and is predicted to affect 1 in 85 people globally by 2050 but first, just to clear this up, dementia is the umbrella term. It describes the overall set of symptoms like memory loss, confusion, or changes in behaviour. Alzheimer’s is one specific disease that falls under that umbrella, and it’s the one most people are familiar with. So, what actually happens in Alzheimer’s disease over time is proteins start to build up in the brain, these proteins are called beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles. This build-up gets in the way of how brain cells communicate with each other, and eventually it causes those cells to die. That’s what leads to the symptoms we see: memory loss, confusion, difficulty with problem-solving, and changes in mood or personality. And as it progresses, those symptoms become more severe, eventually affecting someone’s ability to live independently.

1:49 - Joshua Roberts

Yeah for sure, over time it can really have some server effects on someone quality of life. But at the moment what are the current treatment methods or current treatments that are out there for Alzheimer’s?

2:03 - Andy Smith

Right now, conventional treatments focus mostly on managing symptoms and slowing progression. So there's medications such as cholinesterase inhibitors and memantine which can help improve communication between brain cells. There are also new drugs in development aimed at reducing amyloid plaques, as well as lifestyle factors, like regular exercise, brain training, healthy diet, sleep, and social engagement are also important. But because outcomes vary, people are increasingly looking at complementary approaches, which brings us to PEMF.

2:37 - Joshua Roberts

And yeah for anyone who hasn't heard of PEMF what is it in 30 seconds

2:43 - Andy Smith

Yeah so just in summary, PEMF therapy, which stands for Pulsed Electromagnetic Field therapy, is a non-invasive, drug-free, and natural treatment that uses pulsed electromagnetic fields to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes to create the optimal environment to heal. 

2:58 - Joshua Roberts

Great so you said some of the main causes of Alzheimer’s is the beta-amyloid plaques and tau tangles build up, is there any studies that have found PEMF to reduce these? 

3:10 - Andy Smith

Yes there’s a really interesting study that investigated this. So instead of just focusing on symptoms, the researchers wanted to see if PEMF could actually affect Alzheimer’s at the genetic level. They focused on something called microRNAs. These are tiny molecules inside our cells that act like switches, turning certain genes on or off. And in Alzheimer’s, a lot of these switches are disrupted, which makes the disease a lot worse. The team took blood immune cells from 13 people with Alzheimer’s and exposed them to a low-frequency PEMF, at about 30 Gauss and 75 hz for different lengths of time, between 15 and 60 minutes. Then they measured how three key microRNAs changed. The second microRNA, miR-335-5p, is linked to memory and learning, because it influences synaptic plasticity which is the brain’s ability to form new connections. PEMF increased this marker at first, but the effect changed with longer exposures, showing that timing really is important. In fact, after 15 minutes the levels went up, but at 30 and 60 minutes, that boost didn’t continue. Levels slightly actually dropped back down a bit, meaning the effect was less beneficial with longer exposure. The third, miR-26b-5p, is connected to glutamate, a key brain chemical for communication. Too much glutamate can damage brain cells. With PEMF, this microRNA dropped with longer exposure, which might help keep glutamate levels balanced and protect neurons. So, the big takeaway is this: PEMF did change the genetic regulators involved in Alzheimer’s, especially by reducing the activity of BACE1, the enzyme behind amyloid plaque build-up. It’s not really that simple, some effects were helpful, others depended on how long cells were exposed, but it shows PEMF could work much deeper in the body than we once thought, right down to the switches that control our genes.

5:20 - Joshua Roberts

It's really interesting that the actual longer session, seemed to have less effects in certain areas. It might kind of show that there is kind of a Biphasic Dose Response with PEMF and that might actually cross quite a few different areas. It might be something that might need to be looked at a little bit harder or a little bit more when it comes to PEMF. But kind of looking at some more studies, are there any more studies that actually showed PEMF to kind of reduce that brain plaque?

5:46 - Andy Smith

Yes, another study from 2024 looked at the effects of low-frequency, low-energy PEMF on two key types of brain cells: neurons (the main signalling cells) and microglia (the brain’s immune cells), both of which play a central role in Alzheimer’s disease. The researchers wanted to see whether PEMF could protect these cells when exposed to damaging agents like hydrogen peroxide (which essentially generates oxidative stress) and amyloid-beta peptide (the toxic protein fragment that forms plaques in Alzheimer’s). They used human SH-SY5Y neuronal cells and N9 microglial cells, exposing them to 75 Hz. The key outcomes they wanted to measured were oxidative stress, mitochondrial health, and cell survival. In neurons, amyloid-beta and hydrogen peroxide both caused a big spike in reactive oxygen species (which is ROS) damaging molecules that attack proteins, DNA, and lipids. Continuous PEMF exposure significantly reduced this oxidative stress and also helped to preserve mitochondrial function. Since mitochondria are the “powerhouses” of the cell, they say, protecting them is crucial for keeping neurons alive. In microglia, amyloid-beta and inflammatory triggers caused similar mitochondrial damage and oxidative stress. Once again, PEMF reduced ROS production, helped restore mitochondrial potential, and reduced cell death. This is especially important because microglia can be a double-edged sword in Alzheimer’s: if they survive in a healthy state, they help clear plaques, but if they die or become overactivated, they drive inflammation 

7:39 - Joshua Roberts

Yeah. That's great. There was actually something as well that was kind of interesting for this study as well, wasn't there? 

7:44 - Andy Smith

Yeah interestingly, the team also found that PEMF alone seemed to have a pro-survival effect in neurons, increasing viability even in the absence of injury. The protective effect was linked to pathways involving ERK phosphorylation (a stress-activated signalling route). PEMF appeared to reduce this over-activation, which may be one way it helps cells resist damage. Overall, the results suggest that low-frequency PEMF can defend both neurons and microglia against the oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction triggered by amyloid-beta. Since oxidative stress and mitochondrial collapse are thought to be early drivers of Alzheimer’s progression, these findings point to PEMF as a potential tool to slow or protect against cellular damage in the disease.

8:33 - Joshua Roberts

Hopefully they can actually start to find out what some of these mechanisms are and how they actually work, with some more research, in the future. But was there any kind of other noteworthy, studies on Alzheimer's?

8:45 - Andy Smith

Yeah so the last study showed PEMF can protect both neurons and microglia from oxidative stress and mitochondrial collapse, which are some of the earliest drivers of Alzheimer’s. But researchers didn’t stop there. Another recent paper asked: can PEMF not only protect brain cells from damage, but also actually reactivate some of the brain’s natural survival and repair pathways? To test this, they used a model of neuron-like PC12 cells that had been injured with hydrogen peroxide or amyloid-beta, again both are key stressors in Alzheimer’s. What they found was that PEMF didn’t just reduce oxidative stress and prevent cell death. It also restored mitochondrial membrane potential, reduced caspase-3 activation which is one of the enzymes that drives programmed cell death and crucially, it reactivated the cAMP–CREB–BDNF signalling pathway. This pathway is central to learning, memory, and neuroplasticity, but it normally gets shut down under Alzheimer’s-like stress. By switching it back on, PEMF helped boost levels of BDNF, a growth factor that supports synapses and keeps neurons resilient. So the message here is that PEMF might not only act as a shield against damage, but also as a kind of switch to turn back on the brain’s natural self-repair systems.

10:15 - Joshua Roberts

Yeah. That's a really great collection of studies we've got there. And it's worth mentioning that there was a really good one as well that used PEMF, but with radio frequencies, which I'll link below with all the other studies. And while you're down there as well, there is our Instagram, where we've summarized a whole load of summaries about PEMF across a whole range of conditions. Definitely worth checking out if you are interested. But for they're all kind of like a list of almost general kind of benefits that PEMF can kind of give you, do these kind of general list of benefits kind of help with Alzheimer's as well? 

10:51 - Andy Smith

Yeah even if we put the Alzheimer’s-specific studies to one side, we already know PEMF has some general benefits that could be really relevant for just brain health. For example, one of the big ones is circulation. PEMF has been shown in multiple studies to improve blood flow and microcirculation. In Alzheimer’s, blood supply to the brain is often reduced, so anything that helps oxygen and nutrients reach brain cells could be really supportive. Then there’s inflammation. Chronic inflammation in the brain is thought to speed up the progression of Alzheimer’s. PEMF is well-documented in anti-inflammatory effects in other contexts, so the same principle could apply here, calming things down and reducing stress on neurons. Another area is cellular energy. The brain is incredibly energy-hungry, and problems with mitochondria are common in Alzheimer’s. PEMF is known to boost mitochondrial function, and boost ATP production by up to 400%, which may help brain cells stay more resilient. And finally, there’s sleep and stress regulation. Poor sleep and chronic stress both make cognitive decline worse, and PEMF is often used to help with relaxation, sleep quality, and balancing the nervous system. So, while the direct Alzheimer’s research is still early, the broader effects we already see from PEMF line up nicely with some of the major challenges in Alzheimer’s disease.

12:15 - Joshua Roberts

Yeah. So many of the currently known kind of foundational benefits as such of PEMF could actually help with Alzheimer's. But is PMF maybe a better preventive or supportive therapy for Alzheimer's? 

12:30 - Andy Smith

Most of the Alzheimer’s research so far points towards a preventive approach. The studies in cells and animals show that PEMF works best when it’s applied daily over time, helping to counteract the processes that drive the disease like amyloid build-up, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and disrupted signalling. For example, in the radiofrequency study, repeated one-hour sessions over two weeks significantly reduced amyloid-beta levels. The 2nd and 3rd studies also showed that daily use protected neurons and microglia from damage and even reactivated repair pathways like CREB and BDNF. That said, there’s also a case for supportive use. In the cell studies, PEMF didn’t just slow down damage it also helped cells recover after being exposed to toxic triggers like hydrogen peroxide or amyloid-beta. That means PEMF may have value even once symptoms are present, by helping to stabilise mitochondria, reduce oxidative stress, and support survival pathways. So, while prevention seems strongest in the data, a supportive role alongside other therapies is also a realistic possibility.

13:42 - Joshua Roberts

Okay, great. So now someone might be thinking, I want to use PMF for Alzheimer’s. How long should they be kind of using it for? 

13:50 - Andy Smith

So the research isn’t fully standardised yet, but there are some clear patterns. In the amyloid reduction studies, cells were exposed for around 1 hour daily, over 14 to 21 days, before results became significant. In the microglia and neuron protection studies, exposures ranged from 30 to 90 minutes per day. Another 2024 study looking at CREB and BDNF signalling also used continuous exposures in that same window. So, the common thread is regular, daily sessions of 30–60 minutes, often over several weeks. Importantly, these effects didn’t come from one-off exposures, they accumulated over time, showing that consistency is key with PEMFs.

14:36 - Joshua Roberts

And yeah, that kind of really applies for anything when it comes to PEMF consistency is kind of key. But for Alzheimer's, how should people apply it? 

14:44 - Andy Smith

Yeah so in the laboratory settings like seen in most of the studies we have covered today, researchers expose brain cells directly in culture dishes or use whole-body exposure for animals. For people PEMF can be applied ether locally via a localised applicator or via a full body PEMF mat. We would always recommend a two in once device which has both types of application as this gives you maximum versatility and really PEMF is most powerful when it’s experienced across the whole body, because the human body is holistic and interconnected from head to toe. Five major systems including circulatory, lymphatic, nervous, connective tissue, and meridian (which is the primo vascular) link every cell, tissue, and organ into a single, dynamic network. To fully energise these systems, you need the wide coverage and deep penetration of a full-body mat. This way, all 37 trillion cells in your body receive the benefit of PEMF, not just the ones near a local applicator. But the local applicator can come in hand to help target and intensify the PEMF in a specific area or if it’s rechargeable it means you could use it on the go to help while you get on with your day. 

15:57 - Joshua Roberts

So looking at this now, what kind of device would you then recommend for Alzheimer's?

16:01 - Andy Smith

As we just mentioned I would look for a 2 in 1 device that offers localised and full body application for maximum versatility. A medium to low intensity device would be optimal, so that is 1-100 gauss range, firstly as your likely going to be intensifying the PEMF over the head you want the device to be that level of intense. Secondly the research all used medium to low intensity around 15-30 Gauss showing there is no need to get a super high intensity device when it comes Alzheimer’s. All the studies we referenced used a low frequency of around 75 Hz. But that doesn’t necessarily mean other frequencies wouldn’t be effective, it just reflects where researchers have started, not the full picture of what might work best.

16:47 - Joshua Roberts

Yeah, for sure. So 2 in 1, medium to low intensity and kind of has that natural kind of frequency range probably 1 to 100. So you've got that 75 in there if you want to use that as well. But say someone now kind of wants to track their progress when it comes to Alzheimer's. How would they do this with like a PEMF device or like a tracking kind of system? 

17:10 - Andy Smith

Yeah it’s a great question because if someone wanted to track progress with PEMF for Alzheimer’s, the best way is to keep things simple I would say but always be consistent. So, because we are looking at memory issues that are involved, it usually makes sense for a family member or caregiver to help with the tracking. Instead of focusing on pain like we would with migraines for example, you’d look at things like daily mood, sleep quality, alertness, and how engaged someone seems in a conversation or activities that day. You can also note memory-related changes for example, how often they remember names, whether they follow routines more easily, or if they seem less confused at certain times of day. Some families use structured tools like the Mini-Mental State Examination or the Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Scale, but honestly I just feel these, that can feel a bit clinical. A simple daily or weekly log works just as well. Write down a few key observations energy levels, mood, memory lapses, independence with tasks like dressing or eating. The important thing is to start a couple of weeks before PEMF so you’ve got a baseline. Then keep tracking over time. That way you can see whether there are shifts, even small ones, like better sleep, fewer restless nights, or more moments of clarity and connection. Those little changes are often what families notice first and having them written down makes it easier to see the bigger picture.

18:40 - Joshua Roberts

For sure. And it's definitely worth doing, as you say, some of the times the improvements could be subtle, but obviously they might compound over time. And you might not notice them necessarily at the start. But after a few months you might think it hasn't changed. But if you look back at the log and you go, wow, there's a big difference between month one and month three, for example. But yeah, if you want to check out any of these studies though, I'll link them below this episode. Or if you go check out our Instagram they’ll all be on there, along with loads of other studies, lots of other PEMF related content that'll be worth checking out. But while you down there, make sure to leave us a five star review on whatever audio platform you're listening from or like and Subscribe if you're on YouTube. It really just helps us make more and more of these episodes. 

19:20 - Andy Smith

Thanks for listening to this episode of the PEMF podcast.