Infrared Light Therapy Shows Promise for Brain Injury Recovery

 Didn't your competent? doctor figure this might help stroke and start using it a long time ago? NO? So, you don't have a functioning stroke doctor, do you?

infrared (13 posts to April 2011)

My God, the absolute incompetence in the stroke medical world that can't figure out how to help stroke survivors recover! It's not in your failed medical training, so get the training changed.

Send me hate mail on this: oc1dean@gmail.com. I'll print your complete statement with your name and my response in my blog. Or are you afraid to engage with my stroke-addled mind? I would like to know why you aren't looking at past research to get survivors recovered!

Infrared Light Therapy Shows Promise for Brain Injury Recovery

Summary: Scientists have found that transcranial infrared light therapy may promote tissue repair after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). In animal studies, brief daily infrared treatments reduced harmful inflammatory activity and cell death in the brain post-injury. The therapy led to improved cognitive and balance function four weeks later, especially with 810nm infrared light.

This research could pave the way for a new therapeutic option for mTBI, where treatments are limited. The team now aims to develop a medical device to deliver this innovative therapy to patients with brain or spinal cord injuries.

Key Facts:

• Transcranial infrared light therapy reduces inflammation and cell death post-mTBI.
• The treatment improved cognitive and balance functions in animal models.
• 810nm infrared light showed superior recovery outcomes compared to other wavelengths.

Source: University of Birmingham

Birmingham scientists have shown light therapy delivered transcranially (though the skull) can aid tissue repair after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Their research, published today in Bioengineering & Translational Medicine, indicates that this novel method could result in a new treatment option in an area of medicine that currently has few, if any, treatment options. 

Traumatic brain injury (mTBI) results when the initial trauma of head injury is magnified by a complex set of inflammatory changes that occur in the brain.  These secondary processes, which take place from minutes to hours after head injury, can dramatically worsen outcomes for patients. 

The findings showed significant reductions in the activation of astrocytes and microglial cells, which are heavily implicated in the inflammatory processes in the brain that follow head trauma, and significant reductions in biochemical markers of apoptosis (cell death). Credit: Neuroscience News

The method invented by scientists at the University of Birmingham, U.K. and patented by University of Birmingham Enterprise aims to protect against this secondary damage, and stimulate faster, and better recovery for patients.

In the study, the Birmingham team, comprising researchers Professor Zubair Ahmed, Professor Will Palin, Dr Mohammed Hadis and surgeons Mr Andrew Stevens and Mr David Davies, examined the effect of two wavelengths of near infrared light (660nm and 810nm) on recovery following injury. 

The study in animal models used daily two-minute bursts of infrared light, delivered by a laser, for three days post-injury. 

The findings showed significant reductions in the activation of astrocytes and microglial cells, which are heavily implicated in the inflammatory processes in the brain that follow head trauma, and significant reductions in biochemical markers of apoptosis (cell death). 

At four weeks, there were significant improvements in performance in functional tests involving balance and cognitive function.  The red light therapy also accelerated recovery compared to controls, with superior outcomes for light with a wavelength of 810nm.

The study builds on research published earlier this year which showed near infrared light delivered directly to the site of spinal cord injury both improves survival of nerve cells and stimulates new nerve cell growth.

Professor Ahmed, who led the study, said: “We want to develop this method into a medical device that can be used to enhance recovery for patients with traumatic brain or spinal cord injury, with the aim of improving outcomes for patients.”

The researchers are seeking commercial partners to co-develop the device and take it to market. 

About this TBI and neurotech research news

Author: Ruth Ashton
Source: University of Birmingham
Contact: Ruth Ashton – University of Birmingham
Image: The image is credited to Neuroscience News

Original Research: Open access.
“Photobiomodulation improves functional recovery after mild traumatic brain injury” by Zubair Ahmed et al. Bioengineering & Translational Medicine

How a New Six-Minute Treatment Could Improve Memory in Dementia Patients

With your memory problems caused by your stroke you should DEMAND YOUR DOCTOR AND HOSPITAL bring this in for your therapy. If not done, YOU need to get the board of directors fired for incompetence.  With the increased blood flow caused by this it should be immediately done in the first days post stroke to help penumbra neurons survive. But nothing will occur, your stroke hospital is incompetent regarding application of research to treatments.

How a New Six-Minute Treatment Could Improve Memory in Dementia Patients

Madeline Buiano

Wed, October 20, 2021, 10:07 AM·2 min read

infrared light therapy helmet

Courtesy of Durham University/North News & Pictures

There are plenty of ways you can protect your memory as you age, including maintaining a healthy diet, exercising regularly, and staying active in your community. But what if you could improve your memory in mere minutes? According to a new study conducted by researchers at Durham University in England, a new six-minute treatment could help patients with dementia and other brain disorders improve their memory. "I wasn't sure it would make a difference, but to be honest I think it did. After a few weeks I noticed that my sleeping pattern was better, I felt more relaxed and I had more energy," says study participant Tracy Sloan.

Researchers asked participants to wear a specially adapted helmet that delivers infrared light deep into the brain. It delivers 1,368 joules of energy during each treatment cycle, which helps generate most of the chemical energy needed to power the biochemical reaction in the brain's cells. The treatment leads to a rise in an organic compound that's significantly lower in patients with dementia.

Related: Science Says That Taking Longer Breaks Can Boost Memory and Strengthen the Mind

The treatment has the potential to be a breakthrough therapy for people with Parkinson's disease, traumatic brain injuries, or motor neuron disease, according to researchers. They found the therapy improved memory, motor function, and processing skills. It also helped increase blood flow in the brain, which allows more oxygen to reach the organ's white matter. To track improvements, scientists conducted verbal, memory, and motor skills tests on participants before and after using the helmet. Their latest pilot study found notable progress in healthy adults, aged 45 and older who received six minutes of therapy twice a day, over a four week period.

Although the new technology is currently priced at $9,953.52, researchers believe the results are promising. "We've shown what appears to be real improvements in memory and other neurological processes for healthy people when their brains are exposed to a specific wavelength of infrared light for consistent, short periods of time," says study co-leader Dr. Paul Chazot of Durham University. "While this is a pilot study and more research is needed, there are promising indications that therapy involving infrared light might also be beneficial for people living with dementia and this is worth exploring."

 

Shining a (red) light on Parkinson’s disease

Should your doctor be using this as a preventative tool because of your risk of getting Parkinsons? I expect your doctor to figure out the answer on how to get infrared thru the skull.
Has your hospital done one damn thing from these 11 posts on infrared back to April 2011? My God, the incompetency out in stroke world is outstanding. Congratulations on being best in class for incompetency.

• infrared (11)

Parkinson’s Disease May Have Link to Stroke

Shining a (red) light on Parkinson’s disease

Infrared heat lamps for treating aches and pains have been part of the home medical arsenal for more than half a century. But now it looks like red light can do more than soothe muscles; it can reinvigorate brain cells and may stave off Parkinson’s disease.

Professor John Mitrofanis of the Sydney Medical School has been researching the use of infrared light in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease, with great success.

“Infrared light has been used for a long time as an analgesic of sorts, to relieve pain,” he says. “Even the ancient Egyptians had a sense of the healing properties of coloured lights.”

John’s interest in Parkinson’s disease was serendipitous.

“My first love was exploring brain circuitry, figuring out how little bits of the brain work. I was focusing on a small area and hadn’t yet figured it out, when I heard that some surgeons had stuck an electrode in that exact region by mistake and discovered that stimulating this part of the brain gave relief from symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.”

The revelation gave John the explanation for the latest part of his brain-mapping puzzle. Instead of continuing to ‘fill in the blanks’, he decided to concentrate on this new group of brain cells and undertake research with the aim of clinical application. Supported by funding from the Tenix Foundation, he went looking for a treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

Hypothesising that infrared light might slow or stop the progression of the disease, he tested the light on mice, to assess feasibility on a living animal. As mice don’t suffer from the disease naturally, it had to be induced.

“The mice provide a good model for Parkinson’s disease, as their brains show the pathological circuitry of the disease, but they display no tremor or major movement disturbance. You wouldn’t think they were disabled at all.”

Exposing these mice briefly to a red light once a day had an extraordinary effect. It helped the brain cells survive and stopped cell death. Furthermore, bathing in the red light had no side effects, such as one might expect with a medication. Far from causing distress, the light seemed to soothe the mice.

“They appeared very sedate and calm when they were under it,” he says. Infrared light treatment has been shown to assist cell survival in a range of brain pathologies.

“In animal models of Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, retinal degeneration and traumatic brain injury, infrared light has improved cell survival and function. It’s quite far-reaching and seems to work on the same principle of stopping damaged cells from dying. If you cause damage to a cell by any means, the red light will activate something within that cell to help it survive.”

Because the technology behind these amazing results is so simple, John says the biggest problem at the moment is getting people to believe him and his university colleagues, Professor Jonathan Stone and Dr Daniel Johnstone.

“Even when I first heard about infrared light treatment I thought, ‘that can’t be right’.”

As the treatment works using a light anywhere along the infrared wavelength of 600-1000nm, his results have been achieved by shining a lamp with a red globe. As far as non-invasive therapies go, it doesn’t get much more harmless than that.

“It’s a protective thing. It’s like boosting the batteries of the cell. And there are no reports of the red light having any toxic effect.”

At the start of 2014, John began collaborating with a French group to trial infrared treatment in monkeys. His colleague Professor Alim-Louis Benabid is the pioneer of the main surgical treatment of Parkinson’s disease, namely deep brain stimulation, which involves implanting an electrical pulse generator in the brain.

“With Parkinson’s disease, a specific group of cells in the brain begins to die. We suspect that in the majority of cases a toxin is involved in harming the cells, but we haven’t identified it yet. Unfortunately, most people only present symptoms when the disease has progressed quite far, and about 70 percent of these cells have already died.”

The diagnosis usually occurs once patients develop a tremor, slow down or become clumsy because intricate movement becomes difficult.

Until now, there has been no treatment to stop or slow down the progression of the disease. As John puts it: “We haven’t been able to stop cells dying.”

Current medications only address the signs of the disease.

Parkinson’s disease is not considered fatal. Although life expectancy is a little shorter than average, individuals with Parkinson’s disease can live a relatively long time, but their lifestyle is severely compromised. Thus, the burden of the disease is drawn out.

Tenix Foundation is the major funder of John’s work, and he is “forever grateful” for this support.

Over the past decade, the foundation has done more than just assist him in seeking new treatments for a debilitating disease, it has helped build the next generation of medical researchers.

“Without the foundation’s support, the higher degree students who come through my lab wouldn’t have the opportunity to go on with their studies,” he explains. “Tenix funds their places.”

Michael Lindsay, the foundation’s director, expresses the pleasure his organisation receives from being able to support John and his team of dedicated scientists as they work towards a cure for Parkinson’s disease.

“The team has progressed their research with tenacity and professionalism over the years,” Michael says. “We are delighted that a relatively simple and inexpensive treatment may provide relief for patients in the future.”

This story, written by Aviva Lowy, was first published in INSPIRED Giving, 2013. Read more great stories in INSPIRED Giving.

Near-Infrared Light Regenerates Damage From Traumatic Brain Injury, Latest of Five Studies Show

But does it actually work or just a placebo?

Stroke Rounds: Light Therapy Flopped in Acute Stroke

near-infrared laser energy to treat ischemic stroke

Wavelength-dependent penetration depth of near infrared radiation into cartilage

 

 

 

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/near-infrared-light-regenerates-damage-from-traumatic-brain-injury-latest-of-five-studies-show-300264268.html
A revolutionary non-invasive brain treatment invokes a powerful restorative impact on TBI, the latest science published this month demonstrates. This new science harnesses the power of light - near-infrared light. High powered or multi-watt coherent infrared light, or "neuro-laser" safely reaches into the brain and activates numerous brain reparative processes, including the production of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, the brain's own repair system.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20160505/364387

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Theodore Henderson, MD, PhD, authored the study Multi-watt near-infrared light therapy as a neuroregenerative treatment for traumatic brain injury, which was published May 3, 2016 in the Neural Regeneration Research, and is cited in the National Library of Congress (Pubmed).

"Only multi-watt neuro-laser has sufficient energy to penetrate skin and skull, reaching the deep parts of the brain where injuries are, with no irritation to the skin or other side effects," said Dr. Henderson, who has co-authored five related studies in the last year outlining the efficacy of the procedure and the biological mechanisms of the light (see 5 Recent Studies Show NILT Helps TBI).  "The patients are responding very positively, and our data is consistently showing robust responses. This treatment is really helping turn lives around. The stories we're hearing are amazing."

The new treatment is spearheaded by Drs. Henderson and Larry Morries, co-Founders of the Neuro-Laser Foundation. They are on the forefront of studying the effectiveness of treating TBI patients with a specialized method referred to as NILT.

With millions of TBI survivors, and various other possible applications for NILT, this is one of the hottest topics in neuro-science today, according to Dr. Henderson. Their recent work has also revealed NILT may have promise for treating depression.

Former police officer Jennifer Fortezzo is one example. After retiring from the police force due to injury, the after-effects of numerous traumatic brain injuries began taking a serious toll on her life. Beleaguered with daily suicidal thoughts, she sought solutions to what is largely considered to be an "untreatable" condition. She began NILT treatments with Dr. Henderson in March. Just a few months later, today Fortezzo has joined the "Say Goodbye TBI" campaign and reports, "It's been very freeing for me. I felt for so many years like I was in bondage. And this is the first time I feel free."

"The need is tremendous. We suspect there are many other ways NILT could help the brain heal," said Dr. Morries, who together with Dr. Henderson, is seeking $2.5 million through the "Say Goodbye TBI" campaign for research and for financial aid to provide treatment for military veterans and first-responders.

The study also highlighted that the required equipment and low number of applications shown to be effective point to potential for wide dissemination, as it has also been found to be safe in the hands of properly trained professionals. The method, currently in the patent process, utilizes unique infrared laser instruments developed to Drs. Morries and Henderson's specifications.

The Neuro-Laser Foundation (NLF) is a non-profit organization, based in Denver, Colorado, dedicated to transforming lives of those distraught with various psychiatric and neurological conditions, some resulting from traumatic brain injury (TBI). Building on more than 30 years of studying the effects of near-infrared light on cells and tissues, the Foundation is advancing technology and treatment approaches that will increase quality of life factors for people impacted by traumatic brain injury.

More information is available at TBI.care or calling (720) 493-1101.

Media Contact: David Jahr, (949) 874-2667, Email

SOURCE Neuro-Laser Foundation

Infrared sauna

This could be so much fun if it works as a stroke therapy. But first we need some fucking leadership that will followup this with research. 

Would heat work  as a stroke therapy?

Extra sensation therapy by feeling all that sweat on your skin, including it running down your back and armpits. You can practice new movements, wiping sweat from your brow with your affected hand.

 

Frequent saunas may boost survival, Finnish study suggests

 

New Study Discovers Near-Infrared Light Therapy (NILT) Effectively Treats Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Patients

 

Light therapy could improve brain function in TBI, PTSD

 

Stroke Rounds: Light Therapy Flopped in Acute Stroke

 

Near-infrared Spectroscopy–mediated Neurofeedback Enhances Efficacy of Motor Imagery–based Training in Poststroke Victims

 

What is an infrared sauna? Does it have health benefits?

New Study Discovers Near-Infrared Light Therapy (NILT) Effectively Treats Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Patients

How many decades will it take before your doctors run the exact same research on stroke survivors? Or never?
New Study Discovers Near-Infrared Light Therapy (NILT) Effectively Treats Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Patients

Co-author Dr. Theodore Henderson hails remarkable findings a "medical breakthrough," demonstrating the possibility of reversing brain damage with high-powered infrared light

Aug 21, 2015, 11:52 ET from Neuro-Laser Foundation

A new study published today in the journal, Neuropsychiatric Disease and Treatment, is being hailed as a "medical breakthrough" in the treatment of traumatic brain injury (TBI), which plagues millions of athletes, military veterans and first-responder professionals.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150821/260217

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The study, "Treatments for traumatic brain injury with emphasis on transcranial near-infrared laser phototherapy," found that a specific high-powered, near infrared light (NIR) can effectively re-energize damaged brain cells after penetrating the skin and skull. All the patients in the study reported significant clinical improvement in their condition with no negative side effects, according to Theodore Henderson, MD, PhD, who co-authored the study along with Dr. Larry Morries, and Paolo Cassano of Massachusetts General. This is the second largest study of NIR for brain injury and the only one using the more powerful Class-IV laser to deliver NIR, Dr. Henderson said.

"This is a real game changer," said Dr. Henderson, co-founder of the Neuro-Laser Foundation, "because these patients have retained the benefits for up to four years now. For those who have been told there is no treatment for TBI, we invite you to look closely at what we've found and you will regain hope."

The Centers for Disease Control report over 2.5 million emergency visits for concussions and TBI annually, said Dr. Henderson. Athletes with multiple sub-concussive blows and military veterans with TBI (over 307,000) also have lasting symptoms. These symptoms can include headaches, speech irregularities, confusion, memory slips, lack of impulse control, sleep disturbance, anxiety, depression, and for some, suicide.

"Patients from the study experienced a significant reduction of their depressive symptoms as demonstrated using standardized depression scales," Dr. Henderson said. "They all improved dramatically. Headaches, depression, anxiety, insomnia, irritability, mood swings, sleep problems, and relationship problems all resolved. Several unemployed patients returned to work or started new careers."

The study occurred from 2011-2013 with 10 people diagnosed with chronic mild-to-moderate TBI as a result of involvement in athletics, military activities or as first-responders. The treatments included 10 transcranial applications of high-power NIR over the course of two months. Using a Class IV laser and pulsed light, each treatment took less than 60 minutes. Previous studies with low-powered NIR had shown on transient benefits. In this study, Morries and colleagues report benefits lasting for years after treatment.

The exciting news is that NIR light, in the 10-15W range at 810 nm and 980 nm, can safely and effectively treat chronic symptoms of TBI, Dr. Henderson said. However, he cautions that low-powered NIR or diode-based infrared light does not even penetrate the skin, so not every type of NIR treatment would be as effective as what Dr. Morries and colleagues have published here.

"We have seen the effectiveness of NILT transform people's lives. Now, we plan on making this treatment more widely available," said Dr. Henderson.

Light therapy could improve brain function in TBI, PTSD

Interesting concept, would it be applicable to stroke survivors? Ask your doctor when their clinical trial on this starts up. If no clinical trial is forthcoming call the hospital president and ask why such doctors are allowed in their hospital.
http://blog.applysci.com/?p=3723


Study details here:

Scalp Application of Red and Near-Infrared Light, From Light-Emitting Diodes (LED) to Improve Thinking and Memory in Veterans With Gulf War Illnesses (LED Treat GWVI)

The purpose of this study is to learn if an experimental treatment can help thinking ability, and memory in Veterans with Gulf War Veterans Illnesses (GWVI). The experimental treatment is called transcranial, light-emitting diodes (LEDs), that are applied outside the skull, to the head. The LEDs are applied to three sets of placements on the head. Each placement set is treated for 6 and a half minutes. The participants receive a series of LED treatments which take place as outpatient visits at the VA Boston Healthcare System, Jamaica Plain Campus. The LEDs contain red and near-infrared diodes. The FDA considers the LED device used here, to be a non-significant risk device. The LEDs do not produce heat.

Remote control of brain activity with heated nanoparticles

This should be amazingly useful to us because we should be able to direct nanoparticles magnetically to the correct locations for those neurons in the penumbra that are only partially working. You know the statement; 'Use it or lose it'.  How long before your doctor starts up clinical research on this? Never???

The abstract here:

Infrared light excites cells by changing their electrical capacitance

Mo Costandis' writeup on this is excellent;

Remote control of brain activity with heated nanoparticles

Stroke Rounds: Light Therapy Flopped in Acute Stroke

This is why negative results are rarely published. We need a stroke association to follow up on all stroke research and report on them. But they won't, it is too much like work.
http://www.medpagetoday.com/Cardiology/Strokes/48074?
Details of the failed pivotal NEST 3 trial outline just how little impact transcranial laser therapy had on ischemic stroke.
The rate of good functional outcome at 90 days came out similar with application of the near-infrared frequency laser soon after stroke compared with a sham treatment (49.6% versus 49.3% modified Rankin Scale 0 to 2), Werner Hacke, MD, PhD, of Ruprecht-Karl University of Heidelberg, Germany, and colleagues found.
The adjusted odds ratio was 1.024 after inclusion of all 630 randomized patients (95% confidence interval 0.705-1.488), the group reported in the November issue of Stroke.
"We conclude that transcranial laser therapy does not have a measurable neuroprotective effect in patients with acute ischemic stroke when applied within 24 hours after stroke onset," they concluded.
The initial phase II results had looked promising, but the phase IIb trial, dubbed NEST-2, failed.
The NEST 3 trial was stopped in October 2012 after the interim analysis suggested futility.
MedPage Today reported dim prospects for release of the trial data earlier this year, as all financial support for the trial was immediately withdrawn and the company dissolved after the futility determination.
"Proper termination of the trial was difficult but was finally achieved through special efforts by former employees of PhotoThera, the clinical research organization Parexel, and members of the steering and the safety committees," Hacke's group explained.
NEST 3 had been intended to randomize 1,000 patients with acute ischemic stroke not treated with thrombolytic therapy to either active or sham transcranial laser treatment within 24 hours after stroke onset.
There are near-infrared light therapy devices FDA approved for musculoskeletal pain indications, although in these indications these may simply act as a heat source.
The technology has also been investigated for use in traumatic brain injury, Alzheimer's disease, Parkinson's disease, and some other neurological conditions.

Device company building handheld scanner to detect brain bleeds using infrared technology

This isn't going to get rolled out to your ambulance service or hospital unless YOU demand an objective diagnosis like this.
http://medcitynews.com/2013/07/device-company-building-handheld-scanner-to-detect-brain-bleeds-using-infrared-technology/?utm_source=MedCity+News+Subscribers&utm_campaign=3e5a328c68-RSS_Daily+Top+Stories&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c05cce483a-3e5a328c68-67013357

American Stroke Association launches app to ID symptoms

Lazy, lazy, lazy.  Expecting the general public to subjectively diagnose a stroke. If they were any good they would have an app that checks the urine, does a blood test, EEG Headset, or Pupil response via infrared light

American Stroke Association launches app to ID symptoms

The app is part of a longtime, broader campaign to spread awareness about how to identify a stroke: The newest iteration of the campaign includes an infographic and an online video PSA.

Once again proving they are just a press release organization.

Near-infrared Spectroscopy–mediated Neurofeedback Enhances Efficacy of Motor Imagery–based Training in Poststroke Victims

I don't understand but I'm sure your doctor can put this into a stroke protocol. Keep repeating, 'I believe', 'I believe', 'I believe'.
http://stroke.ahajournals.org/content/early/2013/02/12/STROKEAHA.111.674507.short

Abstract

Background and Purpose—Despite the findings that motor imagery and execution are supposed to share common neural networks, previous studies using imagery-based rehabilitation have revealed inconsistent results. In the present study, we investigated whether feedback of cortical activities (neurofeedback) using near-infrared spectroscopy could enhance the efficacy of imagery-based rehabilitation in stroke patients.

Methods—Twenty hemiplegic patients with subcortical stroke received 6 sessions of mental practice with motor imagery of the distal upper limb in addition to standard rehabilitation. Subjects were randomly allocated to REAL and SHAM groups. In the REAL group, cortical hemoglobin signals detected by near-infrared spectroscopy were fed back during imagery. In the SHAM group, irrelevant randomized signals were fed back. Upper limb function was assessed using the finger and arm subscales of the Fugl-Meyer assessment and the Action Research Arm Test.

Results—The hand/finger subscale of the Fugl-Meyer assessment showed greater functional gain in the REAL group, with a significant interaction between time and group (F_2,36=15.5; P&lt0.001). A significant effect of neurofeedback was revealed even in severely impaired subjects. Imagery-related cortical activation in the premotor area was significantly greater in the REAL group than in the SHAM group (T₅₈=2.4; P&lt0.05).

Conclusions—Our results suggest that near-infrared spectroscopy–mediated neurofeedback may enhance the efficacy of mental practice with motor imagery and augment motor recovery in poststroke patients with severe hemiparesis.

near-infrared laser energy to treat ischemic stroke

I wonder if thick skulls would prevent the effects. What is the expected action the infrared is supposed to cause?
Whats the working hypothesis? This is it: Scientific Background of PhotoThera

Then there is this for Alzheimers:

Alzheimer's helmet stimulates growth of brain cells
http://www.photothera.com/clinical-trials
PhotoThera, Inc. is a medical device company whose platform technology seeks to employ penetrating near-infrared laser energy to treat a broad range of diseases and health conditions. The company is initially focused on the treatment of ischemic stroke and is engaged in a clinical study to investigate the effect of its Transcranial Laser Therapy (TLT) when used within 24 hours of the onset of stroke symptoms.
The link has the results for NEST-1 and NEST-2  trials
NEST-2 conclusions here:
Conclusions— TLT within 24 hours from stroke onset demonstrated safety but did not meet formal statistical significance for efficacy. However, all predefined analyses showed a favorable trend, consistent with the previous clinical trial (NEST-1). Both studies indicate that mortality and adverse event rates were not adversely affected by TLT. A definitive trial with refined baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale exclusion criteria is planned. (ok, it doesn't do anything positive but it isn't bad for you.)

Clinical Application	Study	Subjects	Study Type	Status
Ischemic Stroke	NeuroThera Effectiveness and Safety Trial-1 (NEST-1)	120	Placebo-controlled, Double Blind, Randomized 2:1	Complete
Ischemic Stroke	NeuroThera Effectiveness and Safety Trial-2 (NEST-2)	660	Placebo-controlled, Double Blind, Randomized 1:1	Complete
Ischemic Stroke	NeuroThera Efficacy and Safety Trial-3 (NEST-3)	1,000	Placebo-controlled, Double Blind, Randomized 1:1	Enrolling

Alzheimer's helmet stimulates growth of brain cells

I saw this and immediately thought of stroke rehab.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-510172/The-helmet-turn-symptoms-Alzheimers.html

Last updated at 10:47 25 January 2008

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An experimental helmet which scientists say could reverse the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease within weeks of being used is to be tried out on patients.
The strange-looking headgear - which has to be worn for ten minutes every day - bathes the brain with infra-red light and stimulates the growth of brain cells.
Its creators believe it could reverse the symptoms of dementia - such as memory loss and anxiety - after only four weeks.
Alzheimer's disease charities last night described the treatment as "potentially life- changing" - but stressed that the research was still at the very early stages.
Scroll down for more ...

lead researcher at the University of Sunderland Dr Abdel Ennaceur and Durham University s Dr Paul Chazot are pictured with Dr Gordon Dougal and a prototype cognitive helmet

Around 700,000 Britons have dementia, with around 500,000 suffering from Alzheimer's disease.
The helmet is the creation of Dr Gordon Dougal, a director of Virulite, a medical research company based in County Durham.
It follows a study at the University of Sunderland which found infra-red light can reverse memory loss in mice.
Dr Dougal claims that only ten minutes under the hat a day is enough to have an effect.
"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 said.
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.
"The implications of this research at Sunderland are enormous - so much so that in the future we could be able to affect and change the rate at which our bodies age," he said.
"We age because our cells lose the desire to regenerate and repair themselves. This ultimately results in cell death and decline of the organ functions - for the brain resulting in memory decay and deterioration in general intellectual performance.
"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?"
The study at Sunderland found that exposing middle-aged mice to infrared light for six minutes a day for ten days improved their performance in a three-dimensional maze. In the human trials, due to start this summer, the scientists will use levels of infra-red that occur naturally in sunlight.
Neuroscientist Paul Chazot, who helped carry out the research, said: "The results are completely new - this has never been looked at before."
An Alzheimer's Society spokesman said: "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. We look forward to further research to determine whether this technique could help improve cognition in humans


I wonder what triggers the cell growth. Don't self-medicate, its only worked on mice and may have a completely different result on strokes. Give this to your researcher and ask when they start trials.
Its 3 years old, what happened to it?