Jan 20, 2009 07:12 AM
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Legendary author Sir Terry Pratchett might have been diagnosed with Alzheimer's in the real world, but his prototype anti-dementia helmet looks like the stuff of science fiction.
Designed by Dr Gordon Dougal, apparently just a GP, the helmet bombards the patient with intense waves of infrared light for a few minutes a day to stimulate growth of brain cells. The device will undergo clinical trial 'soon', but the doctor sees promise:
Sir Terry used the helmet for about three months. Over that period there was a small improvement. Not significant, which was a bit disappointing, but it didn’t get any worse.
One mildly positive report is basically meaningless when it comes to treatments like this, but for the sake of the good Knight (and the aesthetic future of medicine—look at this thing!) I hope it works. [Dailymail via BoingBoing Gadgets]
Send an email to John Herrman, the author of this post, at jherrman@gizmodo.com.
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