Helmet halts memory loss from dementia

Telegraph:

A helmet which beams low levels of infrared light into the brain could be a cure dementia after the first patient showed signs of improvement.

The treatment has halted the aggressive memory loss of one man after just three weeks of wearing the helmet for ten minutes twice a day. However, it is too soon to know if the improvement is permanent.

Clem Fennel, a 57-year-old company director from the US, had been unable to perform the simplest of tasks before the treatment, but can now answer the phone and hold meaningful conversations.

His wife Vickey, 55, said: "He was fading away. It is as if he is back. His personality has started to show again. We are absolutely thrilled.

"Honestly, I can tell you that within ten days the deterioration stopped."

...

Dr Gordon Dougal invented the helmet, which features 700 light-emitting diodes which are designed to stimulate neurons in the brain, after seeing how successful the lasers were at treating cold sores.

...

I recall some witnesses that could have benefited from this treatment, however I fear they were feigning their dementia. After they get their product testing complete, if it works this will obviously be a boon for sufferers of this disease, but I think there could be a second market for it in witness preparation. The man who tried the helmet seems pretty young to be suffering from the disease.