The “NeuroAD” treatment involves projecting a magnetic field into sufferers’ heads while they solve problems and puzzles.
“Promising” early results from trials on those suffering the early stages of Alzheimer’s have confirmed that the full onset of the illness can be slowed by up to a year with the groundbreaking method.
The treatment stimulates parts of the brain responsible for memory and learning and offers fresh hope to patients with established mild to moderate Alzheimer’s disease.
To date 16 patients have been treated in the UK using the system and they have all demonstrated significant improvements in their cognitive function.
These positive results are consistent with numerous patients treated in Europe, Asia and the USA.
There are currently 850,000 people living with dementia in the UK – 500,000 of whom have Alzheimer’s, the most common form of the harrowing condition.
The new treatment was developed by Israeli company Neuronix Medical and is offered at private clinics in central London and Buckinghamshire.
Dr Wayne Kampers, Consultant Psychiatrist and Medical Director of the London Neuronix Centre said: “Alzheimer’s disease is one of the greatest challenges facing practitioners due to an aging population that is living longer; our patients and their families are looking for new treatments that can improve the symptoms of this disease.
“I am encouraged with the published data on the neuroAD™ Therapy System, and it has significantly helped those patients I have treated.
“With the completion of treatment of the first group of patients, I have personally witnessed the clinical and cognitive improvement in this group.”
The first patient to be treated was Eileen Brannigan, 61, who travelled from her home in South Africa, and said it had “changed her life”.
“My confidence is back, and I’m much more sociable, less aggressive and irritable,” he said.
“I’m quite excited that I have my memory back. I’d absolutely recommend this treatment without hesitation.
“It’s made me want to live, it’s changed my life.”
Alzheimer’s disease is considered one of the greatest challenges to treat with limited available drugs offering only partial clinical benefit, frequently limited by side effects.
The new system combines transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) with cognitive ‘brain teaser’ training, to target brain regions affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
This dual-stimulation is designed to improve cognitive performance of patients and runs for 6 weeks, 5 days per week, with 1 hour-long session per day.
Daily Express :: Life and Style Feed
