New hope for sufferers of dementia

Jan 25 2008 by Audrey Barton, The Journal

MEDICAL experts in the North-East believe they may have found the key to reversing the effects of dementia, which could change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people.

Pioneering research at the University of Sunderland has shown that regular exposure to safe low level infra-red light can turn back the brain’s biological clock and reverse memory loss.

The study has shown the treatment can improve learning performance and kick-start the cognitive function of the brain.

The results are a scientific breakthrough as, to date, medical treatments for dementia can only slow down brain deterioration. Now human trials are to start to see if the treatment could provide a cure to illnesses like Alzheimer’s. Dementia sufferers and campaigners last night heralded the news as bringing hope to patients who are dependent on medicine to slow their condition.

Dr Susanne Sorensen, head of research at the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “A treatment that reverses the effects of dementia, rather than just temporarily halting its symptoms, could change the lives of the hundreds of thousands of people who live with this devastating condition.

“Non-thermal near infra-red treatment for people with dementia is a potentially interesting technique. We look forward to further research to determine whether it could help improve cognition in humans. Only then can we begin to investigate whether near infra-red could benefit people with dementia.”

The new infra-red device was created by former GP Dr Gordon Dougal, who came up with the theory which has been put to the test by the University of Sunderland.

He said: “The implications of this research at the University of Sunderland are enormous – so much so that in the future, we could be able to affect and change the rate at which our bodies age.”

Dr Dougal believes that 10 minutes of exposure to the infrared light daily would have the desired effect on the brain.

He said: “Currently all you can do with dementia is to slow down the rate of decay – this new process will not only stop that rate of decay but partially reverse it.

“It repairs the cells that are damaged but not those that have died, hence the partial reversal.”

The research has been carried out by University of Sunderland led by neuroscientist Dr Abdel Ennaceur and fellow neuroscientist Paul Chazot, formerly based at Sunderland. He said: “The treatment can indeed improve learning ability. The results are completely new – this has never been looked at before.”

Experts claim that early stage dementia patients should see an improvement in their cognitive function within four weeks, by wearing a lightweight helmet in their home for just 10 minutes a day.

Human testing of the treatment is due to start this summer and medical experts hope this will halt and even reverse the effects of dementia.

Dr Dougal, director of medical research company Virulite in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, added: “As we get older, cells stop repairing themselves and we age because our cells lose the desire to regenerate and repair themselves.

“This ultimately results in cell death and decline of the organ functions, for the brain resulting in memory decay and deterioration in general intellectual performance.

“But what if there was a technology that told the cells to repair themselves and that technology was something as simple as a specific wavelength of light?”

Further research work will continue in this area, funded by CELS, who support healthcare research and development in universities, hospitals and companies within the North-East of England.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Dementia is one of the biggest health and social challenges facing the country. In less than 20 years there will more than a million people living with a form of dementia.

Around 700,000 people currently suffer with dementia in the UK and the millions more care for them.

There are more than 100 types of dementia. The most common are Alzheimer’s disease, vascular dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies.

Symptoms include memory loss; difficulty performing familiar tasks; problems with language; disorientation to time and place; poor or decreased judgment; problems with abstract thinking; misplacing things; changes in mood or behaviour; changes in personality; loss of initiative.

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

It’s great news, says sufferer

KEN Clasper was diagnosed with Lewy Body Dementia four years ago, a progressive disorder similar to Alzheimer’s.

The 60-year-old, of Hopgarth Gardens, Chester-le-Street, County Durham, said: "At this early stage, it sounds excellent. If it is already improving learning performance, it is very exciting what it could do for dementia.

"At the moment, medicine only slows the effects of dementia.

"It is amazing this appears to halt it and even reverse it, which is great.

"If there is something that can repair the damage, then that is fascinating."

Mr Clasper said anything that helps is a positive for the thousands of sufferers of dementia in the UK, many of whom are in the early stages and don’t qualify for medicine funded on the NHS.

They must wait until the disease progresses to the medium stages for treatment.

"I can vaguely remember what is was like before I took my medicine.

"I would hate to go back to that stage, but I don’t know how long the medicine will last for.

"There are also a lot of people who aren’t suitable for medicine who this would help."

He added: "A possible cure or partial reversal of the onset of dementia without the need for medicine would bring so much hope."