Wellness

[puttypiesmom]

A brain-scan helmet could transform the way dementia and concussions are detected, and it’s made by a Boulder Co company. 

Boulder-based WAVi would like to make brain scans a normal part of a physical examination by making an affordable, quick and easy test to measure its performance.

The company has received regulatory approval for a helmet to do just that, and will soon apply for the same for its compatible software.

The helmet, embedded with EEG electrodes, determines brain speed and power by having a patient perform a set of auditory and visual tests, measuring brain activity during the tasks.

The set will sell to doctors for $3,000; patients will pay $30 for the test. That compares to a national average cost of $200 to $700 for an EEG, or $1,200 for brain CT scan.

[Mominohio]

Our technology is advancing so quickly and making detecting and treating illness so advanced and so much easier. 

This is exciting, and wonderful.

[millieshops]

Every bit of good news on this front is so welcome. 

In the most recent AARP newspaper, they wrote about their commitment to the Dementia Discovery Fund - 60 million dollars.  I haven't finished the article, but I'd say the Fund is geared toward treatment for those already diagnosed.  Still if an inexpensive, painless diagnosis can be made, maybe researchers will get info earlier in the disease and treatment might become more effective.  There have been so many deadends in this field! 

[151949]

Sadly, even if they know you have altzheimers there is no cure for it. If I had early stage altzheimers I don't think I'd want to know.

[millieshops]

@151949I had that very same thought!  Do I want to know?  That's obviously a very individual decision. 

But I still think any forward movement in diagnosis is good even though there is currently no cure.  You and I have lived long enough to see what were previously terminal diagnoses become chronic illnesses lots of us can deal with.   I certainly have little hope of a cure for Alzheimer's in my lifetime, but I do hope for advances.

[SeaMaiden]

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@151949 wrote:

Sadly, even if they know you have altzheimers there is no cure for it. If I had early stage altzheimers I don't think I'd want to know.

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@151949 I agree. 

[hckynut]

@puttypiesmom,

Thank you for this information. Any early diagnosis, in my book, is a positive. Dementia can be a separate brain issue that has nothing to Alzheimer's. There are other causes of dementia that just might be lessened by earlier diagnosis.

I am much more optimistic than a couple other contributors to this thread. Optimism for me has and always will be a positive. Will have to ask my GP, and my specialist doctor friends, what they know about this. If it is available and not cost prohibited in our area I would most certainly have it done.

hckynut(john)

[BirkiLady]

@puttypiesmom@hckynut@SeaMaiden@millieshops@151949Most patients have had dementia for 20-30 years before showing any signs or symptoms of dementia. For most of us, we probably already have it. I'd be anxious to know immediately and begin taking preventative measures now to slow the progression, rather than years later when the symptoms become apparent. 

[SeaMaiden]

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@BirkiLady wrote:

@puttypiesmom@hckynut@SeaMaiden@millieshops@151949Most patients have had dementia for 20-30 years before showing any signs or symptoms of dementia. For most of us, we probably already have it. I'd be anxious to know immediately and begin taking preventative measures now to slow the progression, rather than years later when the symptoms become apparent. 

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@BirkiLady    What preventative measures that are proven? I do not think that they are there yet. So for 20 9or 30 years you know what is coming....??? I would rather not know... live my life as good and clean as I always do and take care of my brain  the best I can.  I do not want a test telling me what my future is going to be. 

[Vivian]

Call me a helmet but I detected my husband’s mental decline several years before he was officially diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He was repeating himself and was forgetful and, knowing him as I did for fifty years, I was suspicious. I told our family doctor who referred him to a neurologist. The specialist diagnosed mild cognitive impairment and warned that 95 per cent of people with that diagnosis develop Alzheimer’s. That happened three years after I began my suspicions. The neurologist said the best thing is exercise and eating a nutritious diet...good advice for everyone, but my husband has been working out 5-6 days per week for decades. His weight is normal. The neurologist prescribed meds that may slow down the progression but there is no cure.