Alzheimer Cure | Brain Stimulation Therapy Offers New Hope: Swiss Startup
What were once seen as diseases of ageing societies in the West are now fast becoming a major public health challenge even for India. Dementia
What were once seen as diseases of ageing societies in the West are now fast becoming a major public health challenge even for India. Dementia, depression and Alzheimer’s disease are rising quietly but steadily as the country’s population grows older, especially in rapidly urbanising regions. India today has the world’s largest population, and its demographic profile is shifting. The number of elderly citizens is increasing sharply, with projections suggesting that hundreds of millions will be over the age of sixty in the coming decades. With this rise comes a surge in age linked conditions, including neurodegenerative disorders. Dementia alone already affects an estimated nine million people in India. That number is expected to grow significantly as life expectancy increases.
Experts say the impact goes beyond health, placing a heavy emotional and financial burden on families. The cost of care can take up a large share of household spending, particularly in cities where nuclear families often struggle to provide long term support. Alzheimer’s disease, the most common form of dementia, leads to progressive memory loss and cognitive decline. Depression too is increasingly being recognised among older adults, often linked with isolation, physical illness and changing social structures. Against this backdrop, researchers around the world are exploring new ways to treat these conditions. In Switzerland, a start-up called Bottneuro is working on an innovative approach that uses electrical stimulation of the brain.
At their facility in Basel, a unique device developed by the company is drawing attention. It is a personalised helmet like system called MiaMind, designed to stimulate specific parts of the brain using very small electrical currents. “The device is called MiaMind. It’s a personalized device, custom made for each patient,” said Dr Alois C. Hopf, co-founder of Bottneuro. Unlike conventional therapies, the system is tailored to each individual. The patient undergoes an MRI scan, which is then used to map their brain. Based on this, a helmet with multiple electrodes is 3D printed to fit perfectly. About NDTV (English news channel) NDTV is India's Most-Trusted News Broadcaster with the latest updates in news, sports, entertainment and much more from within India and around the world.
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