Alzheimer’s is a form of dementia that can cause problems with memory, thinking and behavior, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. It is the most common form of dementia that gets worse over time. Nearly 6 million Americans presently live with Alzheimer’s— and there’s no cure for it. The disease is caused by protein buildups […]
DARPA is developing a human memory prosthesis: Here’s how
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) has successfully created what it is calling a human memory prosthesis, a system with electrodes implanted in the brain that restores memory function using a person’s own neural codes. DARPA has been working on restoring normal memory function in military personnel since 2013 in a program known as […]
How WiFi could monitor sleep disorders
Monitoring sleep disorders could be as easy as measuring the radio waves around a patient through WiFi, according to new research from Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Massachusetts General Hospital. Some people suffer a lot during the night when they´re not able to sleep, that´s why it is very important to go through every detail […]
Study: Alzheimer’s ‘seeds’ may spread in medical procedure
(Reuters) — British scientists have found evidence that the biological seeds of Alzheimer’s disease could be passed on through medical procedures – though specialists said the risk of transmission was largely theoretical. Research published today found evidence that suggested 1 of the hallmark proteins of Alzheimer’s – that could go on to develop into the brain disease – spread to […]
Cervel Neurotech raises $11M for device-based depression therapy
California-based medical device maker Cervel Neurotech is nearing the close of an $11.9 million funding round, having raised $11.1 million since April 2013 in support of its technology-based therapies for neurological and psychiatric disorders.
GE Healthcare’s new Vizamyl Alzheimer’s disease detector comes to the U.S.
GE Healthcare’s (NYSE:GE) newly FDA-approved Vizamyl imaging agent is about to make its initial appearance in 7 U.S. markets, where doctors can use it to help diagnose patients with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.
GE Healthcare lands FDA approval for new Alzheimer’s disease imaging agent
Alzheimer’s disease: FDA expands deep-brain stimulation trial
Toronto-based Functional Neuromodulation won FDA approval to expand the U.S. arm of its Alzheimer’s study from 20 to 30 patients who will receive the company’s deep brain stimulation implant.
The device maker is already halfway through initial enrollment for its ADvance trial, which was slated to enroll 20 U.S. and 20 Canadian patients with mild Alzheimer’s disease, provide them with DBS systems and compare the effects of the systems turned on versus systems turned off.
Doctors in NY nearly harvest organs from living woman | MassDevice.com On Call
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — A woman proclaimed dead following her drug overdose opened her eyes on the operating table as her body was being prepped for donor organ removal. The gruesome hospital mishap, which took place in 2009, was revealed when the Syracuse Post-Standard pushed for documents under the Freedom of Information Act.
The woman, Colleen Burns, committed suicide 16 months later. Her family has not sued the hospital, but New York state health officials issued a $6,000 fine and the Center for Medicare & Medicaid services chided the hospital for a lack of internal investigation.
Alzheimer’s: Cognoptix’s eye exam aims for early detection
Massachusetts medical device maker Cognoptix launched a clinical trial of its Sapphire II eye exam, assessing its potential for diagnosing early stages of Alzheimer’s disease by detecting certain biomarkers in the eye.
The non-invasive exam looks for traces of beta amyloid peptides, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease which grows in parallel in the eye as well as in the brain, according to the company.
Defibrillator highlighted in hospital fire, injuries | MassDevice.com On Call
MASSDEVICE ON CALL — Although not cited as a definitive cause, a defibrillator has come under focus amid investigations of a hospital fire that killed 1 patient and injured 3 workers.
Officials investigating a fire that took place at Durham Regional Hospital in North Carolina said that a spark and subsequent fire took place during a patient defibrillation Tuesday morning, Mercury News reported.
