To find the stories you want to read, and more, in your inbox, click here.Authors: Yaojiang Chen, Xuliang Chai, Zhiyang Xie, Zhuo Deng, Ningtao Zhang, Yi Zhou, Zhicheng Xu, Jianxin Chen, Baile Chen Download PDF Abstract: High speed mid-wave infrared (MWIR) photodetectors have applications in theĪreas such as free space optical communication and frequency comb spectroscopy. This all comes after a study in the US indicated infrared treatment had a positive effect on people with mild to moderate dementia.įrom news to politics, travel to sport, culture to climate – The Independent has a host of free newsletters to suit your interests. The study follows 20 years of investigating by Dr Chazot into identifying, developing and validating a particular infrared wavelength for use in dementia treatment.
“After a few weeks I noticed that my sleeping pattern was better, I felt more relaxed and I had more energy.” “I wasn’t sure it would make a difference, but to be honest I think it did.
“I have a bad memory to start with and I think as you get older it gets no better, so I thought I would give the therapy a go,” she said. However she noted improvement in her daily life after wearing the helmet morning and night for six minutes each time over three months. She works as a GP’s administrator, is healthy and has no diagnosed condition that would affect her memory. Tracy Sloan, 56, used one of the helmets to improve her memory. He added: "Much more research is needed to fully understand the mechanism of action." The GP said the helmet "may well help dying brain cells regenerate into functioning units once again". Results of testing on both groups revealed a significant improvement in performance in motor function, memory and brain processing speed in those who used the real helmet compared to those who were given the placebo.ĭevised by Dr Dougal, the £7,250 PBM-T helmet works by delivering infrared light from 14 fan-cooled LED light arrays deep into the brain. In the study, published in the journal Photobiomodulation, Photomedicine And Laser Surgery, 14 healthy people, aged 45 and over received six minutes of PBM-T at a wavelength of 2068 nanometres twice a day for a month.Īlongside these volunteers, a control group of 13 people were given a dummy helmet to use. "Indeed, we and our US research collaborators recently also published a new independent clinical study which provides the first evidence for profound and rapid improvement in memory performance in dementia." The results showed improvements in the memory, motor function and processing skills of the volunteers.Īs a result, the researchers believe that transcranial photobiomodulation therapy (PBM-T) could benefit people with dementia.ĭr Chazot said: "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. Infrared light therapy could potentially be used to help those living with dementia, researchers have said.Ī pilot study, led by Dr Paul Chazot of Durham University and GP Dr Gordon Dougal, used a helmet to beam the light into healthy volunteers’ brains. Lead researcher Dr Paul Chazot (left), pictured with GP Dr Gordon Dougal, who devised the helmet and Tracy Sloan who used it to improve her memory - Durham University/PA