RSS Feeds
Science
Infrared-Beaming Helmet May Battle Alzheimer's
Posted by Gizmodo US Edition at 2:03 AM on January 26, 2008
Despite looking like a freaky PC case-mod for your head, researchers say this helmet may serve as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease. It directs low levels of infrared light at the skulls of Alzheimer's sufferers in order to combat the disease by stimulating brain cell growth.
A medical team from Sunderland and Durham Universities in the UK believe this could help combat the disease, having already tested the idea on mice. In that test, the mice gained better learning ability afterwards. A human test will go ahead in the summer.
Current therapy for Alzheimer's sufferers doesn't correct for cell-loss, which is why this technology may be promising. Infrared treatment, thought to stimulate cell re-growth, was developed first for cold sores (better known by snickering bloggers as "mouth herpes") and according to doctors at the research company Virulite, shining IR lasers at Alzheimer's sufferers led to improvements in eight out of nine cases.
The helmet design uses the same principle, and its trials on real people will use levels of IR equivalent to sunshine in the hope of reversing some of the crippling damage caused by this disease. No word yet when we'll be able to use TV remotes to try and stave off Alzheimer's at home. [BBC News and Daily Mail]
Comments (AU Comments · US Comments)
There are currently no AU comments for this post.
fisherhum
Posted 3:14 AM 26/1/08
I wonder if it would solve my folically challenged scalp problem....
fisherhum
woolie
Posted 3:14 AM 26/1/08
It'd take a mighty powerful IR laser, with attendant heat and tissue problems, to penetrate to scalp, even assuming it will stimulate neural cell growth in humans and furthermore that this will have an affect on Alzheimers, which as far as I am aware, is a disease caused by defects in protein folding machinery. Plenty of reasons to be skeptical here.
woolie
impliedsurprise
Posted 3:14 AM 26/1/08
A pleasant side effect is that it will probably make your hair grow longer and thicker. Laser comb anyone?
[www.lasercomb.net]
impliedsurprise
robinandtami
Posted 3:14 AM 26/1/08
You're right, you are no scientist. Infrared lighting has long been used in wound care as it does stimulate cellular regeneration; however, I doubt it's ability to penetrate the skull.
robinandtami
JStrulleh
Posted 3:14 AM 26/1/08
Yeah, but why not give it a try? It's just IT, it doesn't seem like it could hurt to try. To be a part of someone's life who's going through Alzheimer's is a horrible, horrible thing, and everything that can be done to prevent, halt, or reverse this disease should be done. I really hope it works.
JStrulleh
weatherman
Posted 3:14 AM 26/1/08
I'm no scientist, but this seems completely implausible.
weatherman
ideaman2020
Posted 12:12 PM 25/1/08
...from space...
ideaman2020
ideaman2020
Posted 12:12 PM 25/1/08
Bonus: it keeps the government from scanning your mind with their thought-reading lasers...
ideaman2020
ANoel
Posted 11:40 AM 25/1/08
@nutbastard:
Good idea... add a propellor on top - wait - make that an Overthruster.
ANoel
Waka in Japan
Posted 11:37 AM 25/1/08
it DOES look like a pc mod
Waka in Japan
nutbastard
Posted 11:23 AM 25/1/08
Wait wait wait... you mean to tell me one can hasten the regrowth of braincells by wearing this helmet?
Fuck alzheimers patients. Get Bush one of these ASAP.
nutbastard
Bash_
Posted 12:57 PM 25/1/08
looks like a casemod to me, but I guess it doesn't matter how it looks, if it can cure a deadly disease...
Bash_
nwgrede
Posted 12:43 PM 25/1/08
"stimulating brain cell growth"
OMG I can now drink heavily and actually GROW brain cells at the same time. Sliced bread move aside.
nwgrede
Brent LaRowe
Posted 12:30 PM 25/1/08
Why not just put a space-heater on their head?
Brent LaRowe
TheBear91
Posted 10:14 AM 26/1/08
The picture can't be serious. What's with all the fans? Does it really take that much power? I can just imagine the power cord...
"Yeah, old Harry remembered to plug it in, but he forgot to get out of the bath first."
TheBear91
Reilaos: Putting the 'Fun' in Dysfunction!
Posted 10:14 AM 26/1/08
If this actually were to work, would it be limited to Alzheimer's patients?
Reilaos: Putting the 'Fun' in Dysfunction!
Mardam
Posted 6:14 AM 30/1/08
I've also seen this used as a penis enlarging device. Doesn't work there, either.
Mardam
hr730
Posted 7:16 AM 30/1/08
All you people who are making fun of this obviously know nothing about what it's like to have alzheimer's disease. You should try being a little more sympathetic. You may be there some day.
hr730
trejovan
Posted 11:13 AM 30/1/08
HR730 is right! I can only hope none of you ever have to experience what it is like wathching helplessly as your grandparent, parent,etc. die from such a cruel disease...
trejovan
TABOO
Posted 3:13 PM 1/2/08
I agree that alzheimer's is a horrible disease but who's to say that these guys arent sympathetic? So they're poking fun at the product...THE PRODUCT! If you pulled your undies out of your ass and relaxed a bit, then maybe you too would be able to have some fun.
TABOO
collin88
Posted 2:40 PM 12/3/08
Light is just another frequency just like sound waves etc, and infrared is at one end of the electromagnetic spectrum. Light waves modulate at certain frequencies, so it is quite possible those frequencies have an effect on parts of the brain.
I would like to know how the trials are progressing and if this application has been tried for general memory enhancement.
Re; fans I don't know why they choose small pc fans when a hair dryer on cold setting attached to a set of plastic outlets use in plumbing connect via a flexible hose would work more efficiently and be less bulky.
collin88