A drastic new treatment for Alzheimer’s disease could be a skin patch which glues on the neck and improves blood flow to the brain. The electronic device similar to the size of matchbox, by using infrared light relaxes and widens the carotid arteries, run from the heart to the brain.
This device improves the blood flow, because earlier studies have shown that increased blood flow can slow progression of the condition. The device is believed to function improving the production of natural body chemical called nitric oxide that helps in relaxing the muscle, which stripe arteries.
The lab studies have shown that infrared light pierces the skin and triggers an enzyme in blood vessels known as mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase that stimulates discharge of nitric oxide. This makes the artery widen, increasing the space available for blood to flow through the brain.
The new stick-on patch contains a light releasing gadget placed directly over both carotid arteries, which would be left on for several hours at a time that runs a few millimeters underneath the skin on both sides of the neck. Alzheimer’s disease affects millions of people globally and number is expected to be double in next forty years.
Since long the study for new drugs and treatment for Alzheimer’s disease has focused on the hypothesis that condition is caused by the build-up of harmful deposits in the brain. Minute fragments of protein known as amyloid plaques clomp together and stick to the outside of brain cells, called neurons, rather than being broken down and flushed away, as in a healthy brain.
On getting bigger, these clumps halt nerve cells from conversing each other, disrupting memory, mood and behavior. The latest studies have suggested that condensed blood flow to the brain may be a crucial factor. The restricted blood flow not only deprives the brain of essential nutrients but also disrupts the disposal of waste products.
The accumulation of waste products may be ultimately leads to the build-up of brain deposits. Another disease known as vascular dementia is occurred due to deprived blood supply to the brain, frequently due to smoking, a high-fat diet and lack of exercise. If preliminary trials are successful it could be available for use within two to three years, stated Clarimedix Inc, the manufacturers of the neck patch.
The connection between blood supply to the brain and Alzheimer’s is attracting great technical interest. There is a drive in study towards understanding how blood flow problems are linked to dementia and increased inflammation in the brain. There are many causative factors to developing dementia and blood flow may prove to be an important one, explained Dr Simon Ridley, head of research at Alzheimer’s Research UK.
My Daughter has MS and has recently had treatment to open partially blocked carotid arteries in the neck to increase blood flow to the brain, caused by CCSVI.
The difference in her energy levels and and some other symptoms was wonderful I would like to know more about the patch as I feel it may help other people with MS and also people with Parkinsons (My husband has Parkinsons disease) so there are two reasons for my interest.