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Scientists Claim Infrared Helmet Could Reverse Alzheimer's Symptoms
penguin_dance writes "Ready to put on your thinking cap? There's a report out of the UK regarding an 'experimental helmet which scientists say could reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease within weeks of being used'. The helmet is to be worn for ten minutes every day and stimulates the growth of brain cells using infra-red light. The article explains, 'Low level infra-red red is thought to stimulate the growth of cells of all types of tissue and encourage their repair. It is able to penetrate the skin and even get through the skull.' Human trials are due to start this summer." I wont make any nomad-based predictions, but I'll remain on the skeptic side of the fence for now.
Seeing the linked article's image of the 3 Doctor's holding their experimental "Prototype Cognitive Helmet", I can't help but imagine one of them wearing it while reenacting Rick Moranis' doll-play monologue from Spaceballs:
[Playing with his dolls]
Dark Helmet: [In Dark Helmet voice] And now Princess Vespa, I have you in my clutches, to have my wicked way with you, the way I want to.
[In Vespa voice]
Dark Helmet: No, no, go away, I hate you! And yet... I find you strangely attractive.
[In D.H. voice]
Dark Helmet: Of course you do! Druish princesses are often attracted to money and power, and I have both, and you *know* it!
[In V. voice]
Dark Helmet: No, no, leave me alone!
[In D.H. voice]
Dark Helmet: No, kiss me!
[V]
Dark Helmet: No! Stop!
[D.H]
Dark Helmet: Yes, yes!
[V]
Dark Helmet: Oh, oh, oh! Ohhhh, your helmet is so big!
So how is this helmet different from just walking around in the sunshine? It's not like there isn't any infra-red light in ordinary sunlight.
Won't it work even better on those of us who don't have the Alzheimer's, yet?
This issue is a bit more complicated than you think.
My father has Alzheimer's. Most Alzheimer's patients are very kind and sweet but my father is so bitter that he is always angry because at 55 he realizes his brain is slowly killing him. His short term memory is nil. He walks especially slow and his communication is getting poorer. He was diagnosed in October 2005 and he was showing symptoms before that.
Frankly, This is an illustration of why our process of developing medications is ridiculous. This may not work (though I resent that "wontwork" tag) but frankly there are at least 3 very promising treatments for Alzheimer's Disease in early trials. But because of the length and the way trials work, if they are successful none of them will emerge from trials early enough to help my father. And frankly, he and my family would be willing to try anything to help him. And in the end the worse outcome is that he doesn't get better. But we will never know. 10 years from now Alzheimer's may be no worse than severe diabetes, MS, Crohn's Disease or what have you: controllable, not curable with a quality of life equivalent to most other people. But because we would rather not kill a dying person to find out if we'll kill them or save them, my father will never get benefit of this.
Derek Greene
Oh, and your google-fu is lacking, Sir, because a brief search of my normal LED suppliers gave me this: http://www.roithner-laser.com/LED_diverse.htm which admittedly is 1070nm (2.5mW) nominal output rather than 1072nm. However, given that it's minimum is 1020 and it's maximum 1120 i'd say you're gonna be getting a fairly hefty amount of 1072nm light out of it. I notice they also do a high-power (like 150mW) LED panel which radiates at 1050nm (peak 1000~1100nm), which again isn't right on the money but is gonna give you enough to trial, given that they were talking about this clinical trial dosing patients with about the same amount of IR as regular sunlight. Granted these diodes don't come cheap, with the quoted price for the 1070nm LED being about $20 each, which given the number you'd want could get pretty expensive. But then, what cost is health?
The truth shall always be free: Boris Floricic is Tron.