Please don't get too hopeful, but there may be some good news.

There's a new device that some British researchers are trying with some success. We've been discussing it over in the Parkinson's forum. I would insert an url with the news story and the medical link, but apparently the mods won't let me until they check me out.

I'm a medical student, and I've seen some cases of Alzheimer's, and I wish I could help you. The device has been used in animals and apparently on humans too. It may be possible to replicate the results with waiting for the device to go public. It uses infrared LED technology at specifically 1072 nanometers. That's a fancy way of saying a special light LED which illuminates at a particular wavelength.

The light when placed upon the forehead and the temples has been shown amazingly enough to foster new neuron growth. Neurons typically do not grow, you're assigned the same number at birth.

You've probably heard that some parts of the brain cells do increase in number. These parts are called dendrites. They are the connections between neurons, and these can be encouraged to grow based upon learning and stimulation. As we age, the more mental activity we have, the more dendrites are encouraged to grow.

The importance of the infrared LED technology is that is the first time scientists have been able to increase neurons.

There are many inexpensive infrared LEDs available, but we don't know if they will help. Some patients have been using them with success to treat bone spurs, rosacea, cold sores, and in pain management. It is called LED light therapy. Most of these devices however operate on a wavelength from 850-950 nm.

In the British study, they developed a helmet with the LEDs and fans to cool the patient's head. They used the device for ten minute intervals over a four week period with some success. Like many initial reports, the number of people who benefit from this technology may fall off as more reports are generated.

I will try to put up the URL when my post count is high enough, or when the mods realize I'm not a salesman. There is no benefit to me posting, I am only doing it to help others. I did some checking on the internet for the LEDs. I was a electronics tech before I became a medical student, and I was curious if we could make more devices inexpensively to see if they would help.

A LED is a very simple device. Many of you now have seen or own simple LED flashlights. Realize that the device can probably be made cheaply, you might not have to purchase one. What is important is to find out if the LEDs are not cheaply available, it would interesting to see if the infrared ones that are available (850-950 nm) will help. T

These LEDs shine in a different part of the spectrum than our vision. We don't see them as being "on", so in the case of the cold sore infrared LED, a special light comes on to cue the patient that the LED is actually working.

I hope in time I can share the information, and that we can freely release the details to assist as many people as possible.