Trial launched to cure osteoporosis by playing ‘quiet musical note’ to stem cells in body

Millions of people suffering osteoporosis could be cured by playing a ‘quiet musical note’ to stem cells in their body, coaxing them into healthy bone, scientists hope.

British scientists are about to embark on the first human trials of a groundbreaking new therapy called ‘nanokicking’ which spurs stem cells into action by blasting them with low frequency vibrations.

It could also help protect astronauts whose bones deteriorate in microgravity, paving the way for lengthy trips to the Moon or Mars.

The technique was discovered by Scottish researchers in 2016, who were struggling to make stem cells turn into bone cells despite recreating all the same conditions within the body.

They eventually found that what was missing was the quiet internal hum of around 1000Hz, which when recreated, turned stem cells into bones at around 28 days.

Now scientists plan to test it on patients suffering from spinal injuries whose bones have deteriorated through lack of use.

Lead researcher Professor Stuart Reid, of the University of Strathclyde, said: “This new study will apply transducers directly to the legs of patients with spinal injury. The aim is to elicit the same response in the body as we see in the lab.

“So strapping transducers to the legs of patients, and playing a single, quiet musical note to the bones. Actually, close to the musical note C, but a higher pitch, close to the 3rd harmonic above middle C.

“If we get positive results then there will be an immediate scale up of the project and we will see how we can roll this out for the benefit of the wider population.”


https://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/2019/01/22/trial-launched-cure-osteoporosis-playing-quiet-musical-note/