Helmet bathes the brain with infra-red light and stimulates the growth of brain cells
 

The helmet that could turn back the symptoms of Alzheimer's
By DAVID DERBYSHIRE - More by this author » Last updated at 10:47am on 25th January 2008


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.

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."

Light-based implants for treating Alzheimer's disease
Publication Date:
05/11/2006
Document Type and Number:
United States Patent 20060100679
Kind Code:
A1
Abstract:
An intracranial, light-emitting implant for providing therapy to a patient having Alzheimer's Disease.

*****************

Light-emitting diode treatment reverses the effect of TTX on cytochrome oxidase in neurons.

Neurochemistry
Neuroreport. 12(14):3033-3037, October 8, 2001.
Wong-Riley, Margaret T. T. CA; Bai, Xuetao; Buchmann, Ellen 1; Whelan, Harry T. 1

Abstract:
Light close to and in the near-infrared range has documented benefits for promoting wound healing in human and animals. However, mechanisms of its action on cells are poorly understood. We hypothesized that light treatment with a light-emitting diode array at 670 nm (LED) is therapeutic in stimulating cellular events involving increases in cytochrome oxidase activity. LED was administered to cultured primary neurons whose voltage-dependent sodium channels were blocked by tetrodotoxin. The down-regulation of cytochrome oxidase activity by TTX was reverted to control levels by LED. LED alone also up-regulated enzyme activity. Thus, the results are consistent with our hypothesis that LED has a stimulating effect on cytochrome oxidase in neurons, even when they have been functionally silenced by TTX.

*************

Light treatment via implantable probes:

http://www.google.com/patents?hl=en&...ight+treatment
Helmet seems much better!

*************

Infrared Mineral Lamp: (a book)
FDA approved in 1988.

http://shop.toolsforhealing.com/FIM_...dp-upc-g01.htm

http://www.electronichealing.co.uk/a...mp_reviews.htm

http://www.healinglamp.com/howitworks.htm

I wonder if it works for the brain.

Read book here:

http://books.google.com/books?hl=en&...OhreZZZDzmky68

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Infrared

Far Infrared Therapy Inhibits Vascular Endothelial Inflammation via the Induction of Heme Oxygenase-1
Chih-Ching Lin ; Xiao-Ming Liu ; Kelly Peyton ; Hong Wang ; Wu-Chang Yang ; Shing-Jong Lin ; and William Durante

Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology. 2008
Published online before print January 17, 2008, doi: 10.1161/ATVBAHA.107.160085

Far infrared therapy inhibits inflammation.

http://atvb.ahajournals.org/cgi/cont...A.107.160085v1

*************

Infrared light lies between the visible and microwave portions of the electromagnetic spectrum. Infrared light has a range of wavelengths, just like visible light has wavelengths that range from red light to violet. "Near infrared" light is closest in wavelength to visible light and "far infrared" is closer to the microwave region of the electromagnetic spectrum. The longer, far infrared wavelengths are about the size of a pin head and the shorter, near infrared ones are the size of cells, or are microscopic.

Far infrared waves are thermal. In other words, we experience this type of infrared radiation every day in the form of heat! The heat that we feel from sunlight, a fire, a radiator or a warm sidewalk is infrared. The temperature-sensitive nerve endings in our skin can detect the difference between inside body temperature and outside skin temperature

Infrared light is even used to heat food sometimes - special lamps that emit thermal infrared waves are often used in fast food restaurants!

Shorter, near infrared waves are not hot at all - in fact you cannot even feel them. These shorter wavelengths are the ones used by your TV's remote control.

http://science.hq.nasa.gov/kids/imag.../infrared.html

http://www.sunlightsaunas.com/wi.htm...FQMsFQodS1A3Nw

Clinical Services Journal


Cold sore cure gives ray of light for Alzheimer’s
January 2008

Two doctors developing a light treatment to cure cold sores claim they have discovered clinical benefits when using the infrared technology on patients with Alzheimer’s disease. The Clinical Services Journal reports.

Evidence is building that the cold sore virus may be linked to Alzheimer’s disease according to scientists at Manchester University. After infecting cultures of human brain cells with the herpes simplex virus (HSV-1), researchers found there was a rise in beta amyloid protein, associated with the development of Alzheimer’s, while a similar increase was seen in the brains of mice infected with the virus.

In a separate experiment, the Manchester team stained brain slices taken from deceased Alzheimer’s patients and found DNA from the HSV-1 virus attached to the amyloid plaques. Previous research has already established that the virus is found in the brains of up to 70% of people with Alzheimer’s.

Now two doctors believe they may have discovered a treatment for cold sores, which could also prove beneficial in the treatment of patients with Alzheimer’s – using infrared light technology. In 1996, Gordon Dougal and James Haslam set out to research the infrared spectrum to explore the theory that there is a wavelength or narrow waveband of light that is responsible for therapeutic effects.

When the pair first initiated their research, infrared light was already recognised clinically as a treatment of musculo-skeletal disorders and indolent wounds but the evidence for its efficacy and the method of action was entirely anecdotal. Previous research employing random wavelengths of infrared light determined by the availability of predominantly laser light sources had explored various in-vitro laboratory effects. Although these works had not been correlated with clinical studies there was sufficient evidence to suggest that several immunological reactions could be influenced by infrared light.

HERPES VIRUS

For their studies, Gordon Dougal and James Haslam chose to investigate herpes labialis infection – i.e. cold sores caused by the herpes simplex 1 virus. “We chose this area because cold sores are a convenient way to examine the host response to a superficial, frequently recurrent viral infection. Affecting up to 80% of the population at some time in their life, they are relatively easy to document photographically and by patient feedback,” James Haslam explained. Gordon Dougal and James Haslam treated more than 400 volunteers over a three year period using different narrow wavebands of light determined by the commercial availability of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

The results from these studies allowed them to predict that an effective waveband was likely to be in the vicinity of 1050 nm. Unfortunately, there were no LED light sources available in this vicinity so they approached Durham University for their help. They asked the university to identify a chromophore, an absorbing pigment, in human skin within the vicinity of 1050 nm. The help was forthcoming but the answer to the question was a disappointing “no”.

Undeterred and in collaboration with the university, they looked at the light transmission spectrum of the water molecule. “Light at 1072 nm is selectively transmitted through water and is very close to our predicted therapeutic waveband,” James Haslam explained.

The next cold sore trial investigated this wavelength. A pilot study of treatment of herpes labialis with 1072 nm narrow waveband light was published in the journal of Clinical and Experimental Dermatology in 2001. This trial showed that a five minute treatment with a nonthermal quantity of 1072 nm light reduced cold sore healing time by half compared to aciclovir ointment applied five times daily.

IMPROVED CEREBRAL ACTIVITY

“It was becoming obvious to us that this wavelength of light was capable of various therapeutic effects, the most unusual of which was to enhance cerebral activity. Gordon observed that after irradiating his brain (5% of the light is transmitted through the skull) his mental agility was improved,” he commented.

With ethics committee approval, they commenced treatment of patients with dementia and although they recruited only a small cohort, they were able to observe an improved standard mini-mental score after six weeks of treatment lasting 20 minutes every second or third day. At the same time the volunteer’s carers observed an improvement with patients becoming more spontaneously sociable as treatment progressed.

“Whilst random trials using 1072 nm light were interesting it became obvious that in order for this new technology to be taken seriously it would be necessary for us to find a laboratory model which might confirm the photo-biological nature of 1072 nm light.

“Our endeavours were helped by Dr Chazot in the department of photobiology at Sunderland University where we undertook to sponsor postgraduate research. We were particularly keen to study the immune response to herpes simplex infection given the knowledge that this light has no direct effect on the virus and that cold healing is enhanced by 1072 nm light treatment,” James Haslam continued.

Probing the differential effects of infrared light sources IR1072 and IR880 on human lymphocytes, evidence of selective cytoprotection by IR1072 nm was published in the journal of Photochemistry and Photobiology (2005). This paper suggested that a non-thermal quantity of light afforded some protection to lymphocytes against a subsequent toxic threat, either chemical or UV, and perhaps more importantly measured a chemical change within the cell as a result of irradiation.

However, the two doctors set their sights further: “We knew from our unpublished work that there was potential for treating a variety of other conditions and felt that there was an opportunity to investigate more thoroughly the potential of this light beyond the humble cold sore,” said James Haslam.

ANTI-AGEING

“With the knowledge that 1072 nm light had been proven to be antagonistic to UV and had been demonstrated to increase cell longevity we wondered about the possibility of its application to photoageing of skin. Initially we treated ourselves with our laser diodes and were able to observe, after a period of six weeks or so, an improvement in the complexion of the skin with reduced fine lines and wrinkles. Subsequently Gordon designed a 1072 nm LED array which was put to the test in an ethics committee approved double blind clinical trial.

“The results of the self reported clinical trial showed that 70% of volunteers who received an active device were able to accurately identify a qualitative improvement in fine lines and wrinkles of the treated skin around the eyes,” he continued.

For the university research, the two doctors returned to the potential for 1072 nm light to treat dementia – this time using an animal model. The emotional responses and memory performance of mice in a 3-D maze, after infrared light treatment, were recorded and published in the Journal of Neuroscience (December 2007). Adult mice with significant deficits in a working memory test had these deficits reversed by the application of IR1072 for six minutes daily for 10 days. “Recent work at Manchester University has postulated a connection between Alzheimer’s disease and cold sores. It is probably a coincidence that we have a treatment for both. However, we are hopeful that our discovery of IR1072 as a therapeutic technology will also open up new horizons for treating a variety of conditions,” said James Haslam. Both Gordon Dougal and James Haslam acknowledge there is still a lot of research to be done but their findings, so far, offer scope for further investigation and the duo hope to commercialise a therapeutic technology for dementia in the future. They also see the potential for other applications, but add that this may be for others to pursue, in recognition of the limitations of their current resources and clinical expertise.

James Haslam concluded: “The possibility of enhancing local or systemic immunity is truly exciting and the possibility of treating infections such as viral meningitis or encephalitis cannot be ignored. We have a wealth of anecdotal evidence that this light is effective in the treatment of acne, rosacea, dry eyes, and shingles but for the time being we are having to concentrate on survival in a world where commercial viability is of paramount importance.”

Gordon Dougal and James Haslam
Dr Gordon Dougal and James Haslam FRCS, FRCOph, founded a company Virulite, in 1996, as a research vehicle to investigate the therapeutic potential of the near-infrared spectrum. Dr Dougal qualified in South Africa and also has an additional degree in electronic engineering. He is currently working in general practice in Peterlee. Mr Haslam qualified in Edinburgh and is currently working as a consultant ophthalmologist in Darlington.

Virulite is now recognised as a medical device manufacturer and distributor to ISO 13485 quality standards. Following the award of this certificate, they were able to pursue an application to the Prescription Pricing Division of the NHS for the Virulite cold sore machine to be available on Part IX of The Drug Tariff. This application was successful. From January 2008 the treatment will be available on prescription. Dr Dougal has now designed a dementia treatment helmet based on the technology.

For more information, visit: www.vcs.eu.com

Jaunary 24 2008

New research could help reverse the biological clock for dementia patients 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
"*"
Medical experts in the North-East of England believe they could have found the key to turning back the brain’s biological clock and reverse the effects of dementia and memory loss.

Pioneering research at the University of Sunderland has shown that regular exposure to safe low level infra-red light can improve learning performance and kick-start the cognitive function of the brain.

The results are a scientific breakthrough as to date medical treatments for dementia can only slow down brain deterioration and now human trials are to start to see if the treatment could provide a cure to illnesses like Alzheimers.

Independent research carried out at Sunderland has demonstrated that low power infra-red (1072nm) can improve the learning performance.

The low levels of infra-red light used are completely safe and occur naturally in sunlight. They are currently being used in innovative new machines for the treatment of cold sores, which have been approved for NHS prescription.

Experts claim that early stage dementia patients should see an improvement in their cognitive function within four weeks, by wearing a lightweight helmet in their home for just ten minutes a day.

Human testing of the ground-breaking infra-red treatment on the brain is due to start this summer and medical experts hope this will halt and even reverse the effects of dementia.

The new infra-red device was created by Dr Gordon Dougal, a director of Virulite – a medical research company based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham – which is also behind the innovative cold sore machine.

He came up with the idea of using a safe level of infra red light on the human brain after it had proved effective in the treatment of cold sores – a process that relies on boosting the cells within the body responsible for killing the virus, rather than attacking it.

Dr Dougal said: “The implications of this research at the University of 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.

“As we get older, cells stop repairing themselves and 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? Near infrared light penetrates human tissues relatively well, even penetrating the human skull, just as sunlight passes through frosted glass.”

Dr Dougal, who claims that ten minutes of exposure to the infrared light daily would have the desired effect on the brain, added: “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.”

The research by University of Sunderland neuroscientist, Dr Abdel Ennaceur has led Dr Dougal to arrange clinical trials with patients with age related memory problems.”

Fellow neuroscientist Paul Chazot, who helped carry out the research, added: “The treatment can indeed improve learning ability. The results are completely new – this has never been looked at before.

“Dr Dougal’s treatment might have some potential in improving learning in a human situation by delivering infra red through the thinnest parts of the skull to get maximum access to the brain.”

Further research work will continue in this area, funded by CELS, who support Healthcare research and development in universities, hospitals and companies within the North East of England.

Reference URL
http://www.sunderland.ac.uk/caffairs/septhm.htm

Infrared radiation
 

I have tried to contact Dr. Gordon Dougal, but no luck yet.
Surely it must have occured to them to apply the approach to PD. Or surely someone who has bought the Virulite machine for cold sore treatment etc also is a PWP.
Fascinating, could it work by encouraging repair of the cells in the BBB? They do say IR can penetrate the skull.
The story was in my daily newspaper, and said the results so far are on mice but human trials are planned this summer.
One thing they don't reveal is whether the effects are temporary or permanent
Ron

Everyone should follow this story as the benefits compared to the risks are huge.

Anyone get alzheimers,including the rich and famous.

Infra red light as shown in the helmet is not that difficult to reproduce and the device could no doubt be adapted to fit under a hat or cap easily after all infra red light diodes are very cheap.

The only thing we don't know is what the intensity is or how many infra red light diodes are used.

The picture shows what looks like heats sinks as over a CPU with fan indicating that the infra red light diodes must be operating at high intensities to penetrate the skull and hence need to be cooled

I want to know if it has been patented.

They say trials might start summer which is an eternity away for people with this condition.

I want to see the patent.I want to know what exact wavelength is used...how many leds and the reason for the cooling fans and heatsinks..


MAYBE a infra red halogen lamp is used and that is why the large heatsinks and cooling fans like on a CPU?

You do realize you can make this device yourself?

It is not rocket science.

Now I am trying to help you.

From the picture it looks it just looks like 5 infra red leds with wavelength of 1072 nanometres arranged around the helmet with fans to cool them,as they must be running at their maximum rated current.

You can buy 5 infrared leds easily for under $100 OR you can use a ready made security camera kit infrared flood light for about $40 to $80.

The infra red flood light COMES WITH THE SECURITY CAMERA. ready made..think about it. plug and play or rather plug and heal..

.. look up cctv infra red LED lighting in google...


Maplin Electronics,etc have loads. Maplins EVEN sells infra red leds for under 1 pound each but their wavelengh is 950 nm not 1072 nm, I don't know if this makes a difference...

Think about it. you could try this easily yourself on your kin with minimum risk for 10 minutes a day for 4 weeks and note any changes.

THINK ABOUT IT.

Or you can sit on your backside waiting,waiting and waiting and watching pop idol,waiting for Santa to bring it to you in 10 years time.

Now I have given you all the information to get you started and it should be easy for you to get a helmet and stick 5 leds into it as in the picture OR use use the ready made infra red led flood light that comes ready made with a security camera and stick that in a helmet.

I don't know if the helmet is reflective on the inside or not....you could email Virulite for more information.

You could get a electronics friend to help you in this project.

A more complete explanation
 

It appears that the 1072 nm range is critical for penetration. However it does say: "According to a yet further aspect of the invention there is provided a radiation emitting means in the manufacture of an apparatus for electromagnetic radiation therapy for use in the treatment of neurological and/or psychiatric disorders, said means for emitting electromagnetic radiation being capable of emitting radiation having a wavelength of from 980 to 1350 nm. "

I was a former computer and electronics tech, and I am currently a medical student. I was unable to search for the LED through normal means. Most manufactureres use 800-940nm as their standard IR LEDs. The standard way of locating an electronic component is through: thomasnet.com
However you might need to order a vast amount from them directly.

If you do find an IR LED in the right range, please post the source. I will continue to look for one since I am interested in prototyping one for an experiment.

Nakandakari

P.S. It might be that they used LEDs from Britain givene their location.

Well can't post the link
 

I guess until I have written ten replies, I cannot post urls. Do a search ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION THERAPY, and you will find a full patent explaining their experiment.

The only research is on Alzheimer's so far. For Parkinson's, the area of the brain with issues is the substantia nigra and dopamine production. The substantia nigra is located in the brain stem, so I would guess you would place the led emitter over the back base of the skull. Not suggesting you try this, just illustrating theoretically where it should be applied.

The 1072 nm leds are available in Europe.

here is a short list.

OPE5594S, 940 nm, 16 mW @ 100 mA, ±10°, 5 mm clear epoxy, datasheet
ELD-950-525, 950 nm, 32 mW @ 100 mA, 20°, 5 mm clear epoxy, datasheet
ELD-960-525, 960 nm, 26 mW @ 100 mA, 20°, 5 mm clear epoxy, datasheet
LED970-06, 970 nm, 4 mW @ 50 mA, 5 mm clear epoxy, 14°, datasheet
LED1050-03, 1050 nm, 2.5 mW @ 50 mA, 5 mm clear epoxy, 30°, datasheet
LED1070-03, 1070 nm, 2.5 mW @ 50mA, 30°, 5 mm clear epoxy, datasheet
LED1200-03, 1200 nm, 2.5 mW @ 50 mA, tr,tf=10ns, 30°, 5 mm epoxy, datasheet.

They are available from:-

Roithner LaserTechnik

Just google them or google the 1070 nm led info line above into google.

They seem to have all the wavelengths from 200nm upwards.

Thanks for your interest and information. I'm sure our pop idol, who looks like he is never asymptomatic would be one to fund something such as this if it was reviewed and approved. I'd be interested in anything more that you have to contribute - it is truly intriguing. But for the funding/FDA approval route, MJFF is the way to go for whatever speeding up is possible.

Will someone figure out how to do it on their own and then for love of money keep it from the rest of us at an exorbitant price? Tell us everything you can before that happens.

paula

Since I cannot post the urls
 

Like escallum, I found a source of LEDs, but they're in the US.

Do a google search on Marubeni L1070-03, it's a infrared LED in the 1070 nm range. It's low power, so I doubt it is the one that they used.

If you wanted to build something that might illuminate these LEDs, do a google search on "Building an LED caselight", and you'll find a way to do so.
You'll need some assistance calculating the resistance and making a schematic so do a google search on "LED series/parallel array wizard"

A second, and much more likely candidate is a Marubeni L1070-66-60, it's a infrared LED in the 1070 nm range but at a power range of 60 mW i.e. more intense. This one requires a heat sink to operate (the higher power needs a way to dissapate heat). It's much more likely to be the one since this one might certainly need a fan.

Talk to a local techie in your city about building one for you. If you built the first one, I would suggest building an array of 60 LEDs since that would be more or less equivalent to the second LEDs power.

DON"T LOOK INTO THE LEDS. That's why they're inside of a helmet. They're in the infrared range, so you most likely won't see anything, but could harm your eyes. The article mentions doing ten minutes per day for four weeks.

Good luck,
N

hi paul.

The point i was trying to make is that it is NOT difficult to make this device yourself.


You could wait 5 years easily while the slow wheels turn at board meetings.

In fact a lot of people would prefer this not to work or be used in applications,especially big pharma so that they can continue to peddle drugs of marginal benefit...

if people can build/modify complicated cars and computers,then there is no reason for them to not build this device which is quite simple themselves or get a friend to build it for them.

it is after all just 5 or more 1072 nm infra red leds connected to a helmet.

as i explained above you could even get security camera infra red flood light and replace the leds with 1072nm or just try it without modifiction and see if it works...10 minutes a day for 4 weeks is not that difficult.

esecallum,

I know and agree with you completely. Anyone here will tell you I've been ranting and raving about big pharma for years.

Thanks for your interest.

paula

p.s. The FOX Foundation is trying but it's not easy; as you know what we are reading now will not come to fruition for many years and most of it never will. I would be delighted to be helped by wearing the helmet and could play aliens with my grandson at the same time...lol.

My own attempt to make the "Hemet."
 

I've started an experiment on myself to treat a condition called Central Ataxia.

I'm currently using an array of 15 LEDs at 940nm exposing my cerebellum for 10 minutes a day.

I'm attempting to find a source for Marubeni's L1070 LED here in the US to try to get to the 1070nm wavelength reported in the recent news release from the UK.

Hi artman,
Try this link for the 1070 led's.
http://tech-led.com/Molded_LEDs.shtml

Here is the contact information

Marubeni America Corporation
Silicon Valley Office
3945 Freedom Circle, Suite 1000
Santa Clara, CA 95054 USA
Tel: 408-330-0650 #323
Fax: 408-330-0655
E-mail: info@tech-led.com

GregD

helped
 

Thankyou for this thead,I am following it with great interest.It just makes me remember all the resarch thats going on and progress being made.After a terrible day and feeling really down and even feeling sorry for myself I needed this. Feeling more positive today.

hi

could you please start a diary or report daily or weekly here?....it is important to see if it works..etc..etc..

thanks..

I'll be happy to post any progress ...good or bad.
Al Vergona (artman)

This is the end of week one and so far no change. I'm continuing the experiment
until the end of March. I'm designing a new head band (holds LEDs in place) to cover a larger area.

I've estimated that the power from each LED is 10mwatt/cm2 which should be enough to cause some kind of response. What I don't know is how important the wavelength (1072 vs 940nm) is.

Hope I have better news at the end of the experiment.

Cheers all

Al

Good luck with the experiment. I looked at two different Marubeni LEDs at the 1070 range. One is extremely powerful and around $80 per unit. The far less powerful one is about $8 a piece with a minimum order of 10 LEDs.



Nakandakari

Central Ataxia
 

I am curious how you are qualifying or quantifying any changes. If you regularly receive physical therapy, you might be able to get some feedback that way.

Central ataxia is a very general term, are you having both muscle weakness and balance issues in your extremities?

I think it would be very helpful to keep a health diary that details what you ate each day, lists the kinds of medications you took (or failed to take), what kinds of exercise you tried, what your general state of health was that day, and what speciffic issues with your condition you noted that day. Also note any changes that you think might be relevent (like sleep disturbance or sexual side effects).

Good luck with this alternative treatment. I hope that you find some benefit from it. My prayers are with you.

Nakandakari

a benchmark
 

A simple monitor of change that might be useful is to record the time you can stand on one foot. Do it for each side and take the best of five readings on each. Do it at maximum "on" each time, too.

This gives data on both lower leg strength and balance as well.

Artman i MUST point out after checking a detailed article on using infra red leds you MUST either use it in the dark or block out ambient light using a helmet which is dark on the inside.

I saw the paper last week but forgot to mention it here and cant remember the url but i think got it by typing 1072 nm leds in google...

Ambient light MUST be excluded for those 10 minutes when using th infra red light.

A possible crude analogy might be developing photographic film in a dark room using red light but also having turning on normal light bulb on as well,the film developing will be ruined...

if you look at the picture of the helmet you will see it black inside also to prevent REFLECTED infra red light also from interfering with the infra red light emitted from the leds.Otherwise you could easily double the infra red intensity by silvering the inside of the helmet.

Could you give more information as to how the leds were used in the first week regarding position and also if ambient light was excluded or not...

Also
 

Their patent states that the LEDs should be placed on exposed skin. That's the area that they have tested. Light scatters or diffuses in the hair, so the areas that you're exposing to LEDs to might need to be shaved a little.

Per the article, "It will be appreciated that the apparatus of the invention can be used to direct light to via the transcutaneous transosseous route of the skull but that areas of the skull substantially bereft of hair, such as the forehead/frontal lobes and/or temple regions are the preferred sites to receive light because the presence of hair can reduce and/or scatter the light and effect the power intensity at the treatment site. "

One way to avoid the loss of light
 

I'm sure that many of you may not wish to shave little areas of hair to expose these areas to LED light. What you might try is putting a lens on the LEDs. Some of the LED companies like Maurbeni have lens which can be placed on the LED to improve it's intensity. It's analagous to focusing the light through a magnifying glass. Just a thought for an alternative method. Naturally the area of the skull that you wish to expose for Parkinson's has the most hair, so you might have to shave a small spot for LED application.

You don't have to get fancy on the material to make the area dark. You could probably make something cheap out of black material to cover the LED and scalp region, and sit in a dark room while doing the treatment. Remember to cover your eyes during the treatment.

All healing takes time. If you were severely injured and had to take physical therapy, it often took months to get back "some" function. I know, I've been through that process.

The article claims some rather astounding results, so I'm a bit wary. Even with that reservation, if it does manage to foster new neuron growth, the brain might take time to rewire interconnections (the dendrites between neurons). In the case of Parkinson's, not only would the neurons have to rergow, but also produce the amounts of dopamine that you would need to properly function.

Please continue all of your pharmacalogical treatments and normal medical care while using this alternative medical procedure. If you noticed that you need less Sinemet after trying this for several months, wouldn't that be interesting in itself?

In the end, we'll need extensive clinical studies, and PETs and MRIs post-treatment in order to show evidence of efficacy.

Finally the URLs
 

Now that I have a post count of 10, maybe the forum robot will let me post the URLs. I am not affiliated with any of the companies or websites. I'm only posting the information since it is very cutting edge. I'm a medical sstudent, and I am thinking of making one myself.

Here is the patent application:
http://www.wipo.int/pctdb/en/wo.jsp?...4&DISPLAY=DESC

Here is a link to a LED array that someone might alter with the proper LED wavelength. You would need to replace the existing LEDs and wire in a power source. Probably a cheap dc power supply.
http://www.mcminone.com/product.asp?...ds&ATT=froogle

Here is a company that sells LED therapy devices, cheaply by the way. Remember that for skin conditions the recommended wavelength is 850nm, for neuro use a wavelength of 1720nm is needed, so you would have to order the proper LEDs and solder them in prior to use.
http://heelspurs.com/cgi-bin/c/store...ct=LED_Therapy

Here is the company that sells the proper LEDs and lens in the USA:
http://tech-led.com/index.shtml


Good luck,
N

Question....Does anyone know how we can get a patient with this disease to become a test patient of this helmet? My Dad is healthy except for the affects of this disease, is there anyone who may know how we can test this new helmet before its available to the public next year. We are willing to sign forms or what ever is necessary to beta test and become part of the clinical research team. Thank you, MJPickett

How to
 

Well it would be a long line.

The way that clinical studies usually work is they test on animals. Once there is some agreement that the therapy is beneficial, they test on healthy human subjects for short periods of time.

Typically with drug tests, they would treat some human subjects with real drugs and several with placebos. Then they would test all the subjects to look for drug interactions and clearance rates. Clearance tests how fast the drug passes out of a healthy subject (usually liver or kidneys). Then several retests to see if the drug cleared, and no adverse results happened.

Now with the helmet, we're talking about a whole new protocol. I would guess that they would get healthy human subjects, and do brain scans to look for new growth. Remember that new growth isn't necessarily a good thing. Cancer is new growth, in fact uncontrolled growth of tissue. Many times when the body grows new tissue, the wrong kind of growth occurs. This is called metaplasia. Anyway, back to scans, one scan they can do is called a PET scan. This measures how much glucose is being used by the brain, a measure of brain activity. Remember that what the only definitive way to measure new neuron growth is dissection: something that no one can ethically do with human subjects.

With Parkinson's or Alzeheimer's or fill-in-the-blank, the scientists running the study would have to measure metabolites, look at brain activity, and run tests on function. Clearly with healthy subjects, you might not see any results. Their brains are already functioning well, and producing say dopamine in the substantia nigra.

The initial studies would only prove that the LED therapy wouldn't cause harm, even if it created more neurons. The definitive tests would have to test actual patients for improvement in motor function.

The whole point of putting the article up here, and coming up with hypothetical helmet schematics is that we want people to know about it, and realize that it may be years, maybe even a decade before they allow human trials. Science moves very slowly, and growing new neurons is not something we do lightly.

If you'd like to put your father in line for a clinical trial, chances are they would only pick him if the limits of his disease were minor. That's my humble opinion. Or if the effects of his Alzheimer's was diagnosed relatively early they might also pick him. Advanced cases probably wouldn't get in the clinical trials.

I encourage you to do everything that your doctors are telling you to do. I know you must be so frustrated by how little we know about Alzheimer's and many other brain type pathologies. We must be moral, ethical, and reasonable in how we gradually release new therapies. Glance through any drugs released over the last decade, and you'll see that many people were harmed by treatments. We have to be oh so careful to do no harm.

If you simply can't wait, some have suggested making a helmet yourself. If you look over the patent, we do know some critical information. You might be able to construct one simply enough and as long as you follow some general safety procedures, you might see some positive outcomes.

We do know that exposing the skin to certain wavelengths of light help people with rosacea, wound healing, cold sores (herpes simplex I), bone spus, etc. It's believed to help with the growth of healthy tissue. Looking over the patent, there seems to be evidence that the LED light at 1072 nanometers seems to grow new neurons in mice.

Several of us have combed the Internet looking for LEDs at this wavelength. They can purchased relatively inexpensively. What we don't know is the power rating of the LEDs. It is clear from the helmet pictures that a large cooling fan is used to reduce the heat output. My guess is that this is proprietary information. They simply don't want to release the exact specs to recapture their investment, and also to be responsible.

I'm not encouraging you to do so, but it would be theoretically possible to take an existing LED light therapy device, insert new LEDS at the right wavelength of 1070 nm, cover the device so the light is exposed to the right areas of the brain (and not exposing the eyes), and do the whole thing in darkness.

I pray for your father and yourself. It is terrible difficult to wait for new treatment options. Please be prudent in whatever you deicde to do.

Thanks for the info. I'm currently redesigning the apparatus to cover the temples and forehead in addition to the cerebellum. Also will increase the exposure time considerably.

I am presently experiencing slurred speech, poor balance, and fine motor skill problems due to the ataxia.

Before trying the Maribeni LEDs, I want to complete preliminary tests at 940nm to see if there is any change in symptoms.

Esecallum I believe the information comes from the original patent. I'm having a problem rationalizing why the irradiated area needs to be covered since the body is opaque to visible light.

I'm presently irradiating the back of the head with 15 LEDs now for 30 minutes twice per day. The new improved version will probably block more of the environmental light.

Good suggestion. I like the idea of a quantitative metric. thanks

Just to be on the safe side
 

I am concerned about one aspect of your test helmet. You need to be cautious about getting too hot. The LEDs can produce heat if you increase the amount of LEDs or if you increase the exposure time. LEDs generally do not produce too much heat, but as you increase the amount of them and have direct skin contact, you might make your head temperature too hot.

Just to be careful, why not sit directly in front of a box fan while doing your test. It can't hurt your results, might make you more comfortable, and make keep your head temperature down.

In their articles they said that the exposure time is ten minutes per day. In their patent, they state, "A factor here is the period of irradiation and, preferably, the period should be at least a specified minimum of 30 seconds at a repetition rate/frequency of 450-800 Hz and preferably for at least two consecutive days and up to several months more preferably still the treatment is over several weeks.

Preferably, the electromagnetic radiation is applied to the affected area for at least a few minutes and up to an hour. A typical exposure time is in the region of 3 minutes per day.

Preferably, the electromagnetic radiation is applied for at least two consecutive days and up to several weeks depending on the nature and severity of the condition. "

It's important to relaize that in medicine more is NOT BETTER. For example when you take a drug, more might not help you and might hurt you. In physical therapy as in any exercise, more can actually have a detrimental effect. Be cautious and prudent.

You may not see any effect from the LEDs at the lower wavelength. We need the experiement to be repeated with several other neurology researchers, but for now, you might only see results at LEDs in the 1072nm range. I would carefully read the patent again. Realize that if the researchers could have used cheaper LEDs (the more common ones you have found) they would likely have used them. Keeping the price down is a factor, so if there is efficacy at the lower LED wavelength, I'm sure they would have used them. From their patent, it appears that they tried many different wavelengths to find an optimum range.


Gook luck,
N

I do plan on going to 1072nm in the future. Presently I'm concentrating on making a new version that will encompass a larger area of the brain.

There is very little heat from 15 LEDs operated in pulse mode.

On another note, I think you all might be interest in this cbs interview:



uh sorry not allowed to post a link to another site.

instructions?
 

Ciao to Everybody,
sorry for my bad english. My mother has got Alzheimer and I read this article. Please, is there anybody who can tell me exactly how to make it at home? In the simplest way of course.. I went to the sites that sell the leds.. but if I buy the leds.. then what have I got to do?
Thank you friends

I'm I reading the manufacturers site wrong? This is the pricing that I found:

Part No. L1070-66-60 $347.14 (1- 9 pieces)
Lens 13 (+/- 13 degree half view angle) $30.86
Lens 55 (+/- 27 degree half view angle) $40.50
Heat sink $17.36
Assembly fee $3.21

Total w/ Lens 13 = $398.57 PER UNIT

We don't know
 

Per Aquathought's comments:

We don't know the exact 1072 nm LEDs. There are two so far that I have found in the US. Another person found another source in Britain. The expensive 1072nm infrared LED is the one you quote. We should be careful with that one. If you look at the amount of power it produces, and the neccesity of using a heat sink, and the fact that that one must use a fan to disperse heat, it's a llikely candidate. Recall that the helmet depicted requires three large cooling fans per helmet. There's no doubt this one light energy would penetrate the skull.

The alternative 1072 nm infrared LEDs have a power output perhaps 1/60 of the more expensive one. They do not require fans to operate, but just as a precaution, I recommended sitting in front of a fan while using them for cooling. You know how people are, they often over do it, and a high brain temperature could have serious reprocussions.

Until someone actually sees a helmet up close, or disassembles one, we're not going to know how it's constructed. We're simply trying to reverse engineer it from the patent, articles we've read, and applying our medical and electronic opinion and expertise.

You see the issues with trying to build one? I have mixed feeling sharing my answers, much less a schematic.

If it really does help, even at $400 it's extraordinarily cheap. Realize that all the parts you have listed do not include a dc power source, a circuit board to hold the array of LEDs (including resistors), and a housing to keep the whole thing from shorting out. If you're an electronics tech, you could probably easily build one from scratch, or simply follow my previous advice of purchasing an inexpensive array, and then substituting the proper LEDs with the correct wavelength. Actually, I believe you could make one for under $200 using the hints I posted.

Some people are trying to use different wavelength LEDs in an attempt to assist their neurological conditions. Imagine it this way... When you sit under a light, different results could occur. Light exists in many parameters. It has brightness, power, wavelength, etc. Taking a simple example, if you sit outside you are exposed to many wavelengths at once. If you sit indoors under an incandescent you exposed to a very short range. If you sit under a fluorescent, the light is actually flickering very rapidly, and at a different wavelength. If you sit under a ultraviolet light you can get a tan. You cannot just substitute one for the other.

The only information we have thus far is from ONE study and patent. They mention two beneficial ranges (1072, and another I believe in the ~1340 nm range). Good luck finding the later. If you don't want to waste your money you might:
a. wait until the test has been repeated by other researchers
b. try to get in a study (good luck)
c. try to get one made
d. do nothing but follow the medical protocol you're currently using.

Prudence dictates waiting as the most responsible method. If you have the technical capability, you might make one and be very cautious about its use. If you don't have the technical capability, you might find some friend who does. We cannot tell you exactly how to make one, it is obviously a closely guarded secret.

I'm sorry not to give out more information. I think a measured release of information is far more responsible than telling people how to make something, and then not knowing if they actually follow through the application. All self-made machines have the capacity for harm.

I noticed in one of the articles about the device used to treat cold sores with 1072nm NIR that they claim that water is opaque to most of the IR spectrum, EXCEPT for a "window at 1072nm". So, could an ordinary infrared heating lamp be used as the source? I found sources for industrial IR lamps too. However, one can buy 250W IR heating lamps of the type used in bathrooms or to keep food warm in restaurants for about $3. Could a ziplock bag full of water be used as a filter to block the heating IR while allowing the 1072nm light to pass? Since the treatment time per day is short, about 10 minutes, such a lamp connected to a timer switch and a bag full of distilled water might be a real cheap source for this light.

Filtering a infrred heat lamp
 

Well that's a lot of watts. In essence sitting under one would cook your head if you sat there long enough. It's true a filter could be devised, but how would you measure the wavelength received? The box mihgt specifiy the lumens or candela which is to say the amount of light cast, the watts or power cast, but I doubt it has the wavelength. I seriously doubt you cold fine turn the filtering enough to get the proper wavelength.

My read of the infrared LED is different than yours on the cold sore device. I think that the LED is largely casting light at the 1072 nm range. Most infrared LEDs unless multiple LEDs encapsulated within the same one, cast at a narrow range.

window at 1072nm
 

Also, the main point of that is that the water aspect of the wavelength of 1072nm is that the LED light is being absorbed at that frequency "within" the body. I believe that that is the "mechanism" by which they believe the efficacy is created of a 1072 nm LED.

If you put a bag of distilled water as a filter, would you not in effect defeat the purpose and hence the infrared heat lamps energy would all be absorbed in the water, with no useful energy passed along to you?