Light therapy can diminish dimentia...

[matriarch]

Dementia: Light therapy can reverse the problem, scientists discover
31 January 2008

Scientists reckon they’ve stumbled on a way to reverse the effects of dementia and memory loss. Older people who are exposed to low-level infra-red light for just 10 minutes a day show an improvement in their cognitive abilities in just a month, they’ve found.

Participants have been testing the theory by wearing a helmet that emits infra-red light at a range of 1072 nm. Their learning performance and cognitive functions have improved within a short time, researchers at the University of Sunderland have found.

The prototype helmet has been developed by Dr Gordon Dougal and his company, Virulite, which has already developed a machine that treats cold sores.

Following these early successes, the researchers are soon to test the device on Alzheimer’s patients.

Dr Dougal commented: “As we get older, cells stop repairing themselves and we age because our cells lose the desire to regenerate and repair themselves. But what if there was a technology that told the cells to repair themselves and that technology was something as simple as a specific wavelength of light? Near infrared light penetrates human tissues relatively well, even penetrating the human skull, just as sunlight passes through frosted glass.”

(Source: University of Sunderland, January 26, 2008, and Science Daily, January 31, 2008).

 

[matriarch]

Article on the same thing on BBC news online:

Alzheimer's helmet therapy hope

An experimental helmet is being tested by scientists as a treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

It delivers low levels of infra-red light, which researchers at the University of Sunderland, believe may stimulate the growth of brain cells.

Tests in mice showed it improved learning ability and a study in humans is due to begin in the summer.

Current treatments for Alzheimer's delay progression of the disease but cannot reverse memory loss.

The infra-red therapy was first developed to treat cold sores.

But when researchers studied how it worked, they found it stimulated growth of cells and may have applications in other conditions.

Daily therapy
In tests in people with dementia using infra-red lasers, eight out of nine people showed some improvement, said Dr Gordon Dougal, a GP and director of Virulite, a medical research company based in County Durham.

However, in order to safely deliver the treatment through the scalp, he developed a helmet which bathes the brain in low levels of infra-red light and would only need to be worn for 10 minutes a day.

Trials of around a 100 people with age-related memory problems will now look to see if the beneficial results seen in mice can be replicated in humans.

Dr Dougal said as cells age they lose the ability to repair and regenerate themselves, which in the brain leads to loss of memory.

"Currently all you can do with dementia is to slow down the rate of decay - this new process will not only stop that rate of decay but partially reverse it," he added.

The Alzheimer's Society said it was a potentially interesting technique.

"A treatment that reverses the effects of dementia rather than just temporarily halting its symptoms could change the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people who live with this devastating condition.

"We look forward to further research to determine whether it could help improve cognition in humans.

"Only then can we begin to investigate whether near infra-red could benefit people with dementia."

 

[impressive]

And, when you stop to think about it, the older people get, the less likely they are to spend time outdoors where they could get this light naturally.

 

[matriarch]

Exactly.

I think I need to retire to Arizona......the only problem is it's far too hot to go outside most of the year.

 

[Weird Harold]

And, when you stop to think about it, the older people get, the less likely they are to spend time outdoors where they could get this light naturally.

My first thought was infrared is a major component of firelight and maybe a genetic predisposition to passon wisodm by telling stories by firelight is being triggered.

 

[BlackShanglan]

That's remarkable. Lord, I hope it meets its early promise. Just amazing.

 

[rgraham666]

Too late for me.

I'm already completely demented.

 

[shereads]

Thank you for this thread, imp. All of us with elderly parents and who plan to become elderly ourselves, whether we like it or not, are faced with the fear of failing minds.

 

[impressive]

Thank you for this thread, imp. All of us with elderly parents and who plan to become elderly ourselves, whether we like it or not, are faced with the fear of failing minds.

Well, you're quite welcome ... but you should be thanking mat.

 

[SweetWitch]

Too late for me.

I'm already completely demented.

Yes, Rob, but that's a given.

This just cements what I've been telling my grandmother. She complains that she can't remember anything anymore and has some minor issues with speech aphasia. I keep telling her to get out of the house and get some sunshine. The woman shuts herself in because she says she can’t stand the heat in the summer. I’m going to show her the article.

 

[TxRad]

This goes a long way in explaining the nuts in the tinfoil hats


Makes a note to self: Get outside more dummy.

 

[Huckleman2000]

My first thought was infrared is a major component of firelight and maybe a genetic predisposition to pass on wisodm by telling stories by firelight is being triggered.

Interesting idea, WH!
I think many cultural developments have some biological basis, and future research in that area will uncover more of that type of thing.

 

[shereads]

Alzheimer's helmet therapy hope


Tests in mice showed it improved learning ability and a study in humans is due to begin in the summer.

I can't help smiling at the thought of lab mice in tiny helmets.

 

[shereads]

Well, you're quite welcome ... but you should be thanking mat.

I need some helmet time.

 

[Guest]

I need some helmet time.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/sweetsubsarahh/Thor_Helmet_Costume.jpg

All you need is Mjolni.

 

[Guest]

Thanks, Mat.

We lost my husband's mother to Alzheimer's. Anything that can be done, anything at all, would be a blessing.

 

[SensualCealy]

A few of you know Im battling an issue with an unknown medical problem. The drs have no idea what it is, or why its happening. I dont fit into the MS categories, not having seizures so they havent any idea (maybe more after next weeks appt with my dad)

One of the things they found when they did my MRI was that I have cell loss in my brain. I feel loopy sometimes, like I have no idea what I want or need to do and how to get to it.

I was told that B12 and D vitamins helps build the cell walls up so they dont break down. Up until the first of the month Ive taken B12 for about a year. For some reason my body isnt retaining it in my system.

We get Vitamin D from the sun do we not? In that case, I would need an ultraviolet day light and the infa-red light, what will green do? Id look like a traffic light!

If you cant laugh at yourself who do you laugh at?
C

 

[Selena_Kitt]

Funny, I first read "light therapy" as... "lite therapy" (like lite beer?) and I wondered... what's that!? lol

But LIGHT therapy (bulb going off in head) makes much more sense...

 

[shereads]

If you cant laugh at yourself who do you laugh at?
C

 

[Huckleman2000]

Funny, I first read "light therapy" as... "lite therapy" (like lite beer?) and I wondered... what's that!? lol

But LIGHT therapy (bulb going off in head) makes much more sense...

Ya, I've been using "lite" therapy for a loonnng time, and I'm pretty sure it hasn't made me any smarter. My bladder works, though!

 

[Liar]

Funny, I first read "light therapy" as... "lite therapy" (like lite beer?) and I wondered... what's that!? lol

My first thought was "Cool. Just imagine what some HEAVY therapy could do."