Brain implants can treat depression, dementia and chronic pain

 

Now a team of scientists is developing a new generation of brain implants, which they hope will have an even bigger impact on world health.

In an engineering lab at the University of Cambridge, professor of technology George Malliaras and his team are launching a project that they hope will help millions of people.

They are developing brain implants to treat neurological and mental health conditions which will affect four in every five of us.

"Brain implants can give us a new treatment for diseases that are currently either untreatable or ineffectively managed by pharmaceuticals," Prof Malliaras explains.

Brain implants have the potential to treat a vast range of conditions.

"The list is ever expanding, but we're talking about brain and spinal cord injuries, Parkinson's, dementia, depression, OCD (Obsessive compulsive disorder, which is a mental health condition where a person has obsessive thoughts and compulsive behaviours), and it's looking promising for rheumatoid arthritis and Type 1 diabetes too.”

The implants work by sending out small electrical impulses that change the way our neurons behave. (Neurons are nerve cells, which send messages between our body and our brain through electrical signals. They affect the way we walk, talk, eat and breathe. By changing the way they work, it is possible to eliminate pain or re-stimulate parts of the brain affected by disease or injury.)

"We already know that we can use electrical impulses to diminish the tremor for some with Parkinson's disease," says Prof Malliaras.

While implants are an invasive procedure, they could offer advantages over one-off treatments. 

"Implants can constantly monitor the brain to detect abnormal activity and then correct it more gently when needed."

In 2021, scientists in the US reported promising results from an early study using brain implants to treat severe depression.

What is Sarcopenia?

 

Derived from the Greek root words sarx (flesh) and penia (loss), sarcopenia is defined as a decline in muscle mass, strength and function. It is often associated with older adults, but some forms of sarcopenia can also affect middle-aged people.

Everyone loses muscle with age, typically about 3%-5% each decade after age 30. Inactive people lose the most. The loss can become more noticeable and start to speed up at around age 60.

When you lose so much muscle and strength that you have trouble getting through daily routines, you may be diagnosed with sarcopenia. After age 80, studies suggest somewhere between 11% and 50% of people have sarcopenia.

Sarcopenia can be a serious problem. Once you have lost a lot of muscle and strength, you may struggle to do things such as getting out of chairs, opening jars or carrying groceries. You also can become frail and have a higher risk of falls, broken bones, disability and death.

Here are some of the things happening in our bodies as we age that might contribute to sarcopenia: 

• Reduction in nerve cells responsible for sending signals from the brain to the muscles to start movement;
• Lower concentrations of some hormones, including growth hormone, testosterone and insulin-like growth factor;
• A decrease in the ability to turn protein into energy;
• Increases in inflammation, partly due to disease.

Sarcopenia Risk Factors

Age

Sarcopenia is rare before age 60, though the process of losing muscle begins decades before that. In addition to the biological changes that are part of the aging process, older adults are likely to have additional risk factors, such as inactivity, a poor diet and chronic disease, which contribute to loss of muscle and strength.

Sedentary lifestyle

Studies suggest that staying active as you age can cut your risk of sarcopenia significantly. The more time you spend sitting or lying down during the day, the more muscle mass and strength you are likely to lose. Spending a lot of time inactive may contribute to lost muscle and strength even if you exercise during other parts of the day.

Diet

A poor-quality diet appears to contribute to sarcopenia. Some studies show a link between eating too little protein and developing sarcopenia. Other dietary habits, including diets low in fruits and vegetables, may also play a role. 

Diets with a lot of ultra-processed foods — manufactured products with high levels of sugar, salt, additives, and unhealthy fats — also have been linked to low muscle mass.

In general, older adults who are malnourished, because they eat too little or eat a diet that does not provide adequate nutrients for their needs, are at higher risk for sarcopenia and decline more rapidly when they have it. 

Obesity

Some of the same factors that raise the risk for sarcopenia, such as inactivity and a poor diet, can lead to obesity. When you have both conditions, doctors call it sarcopenic obesity. Obesity appears to worsen sarcopenia. High levels of body fat increase inflammation and change how your body responds to a hormone called insulin, both of which can speed up muscle loss. Obesity can also make it harder to stay active, leading to a cycle of muscle loss and fat accumulation.

Chronic illness

Having a chronic disease such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), kidney disease, diabetes, cancer, or HIV increases the risk of sarcopenia.

While sarcopenia can have serious consequences and you cannot prevent all the losses of muscle and strength that come with age, you can regain some of your strength with exercise and a good diet.

Sarcopenia Treatment

The primary treatments for sarcopenia are lifestyle changes, especially increases in physical activity:

An active lifestyle that includes strength training

Strength training, which is also called resistance training, can help you regain strength and mobility. You should do a combination of exercises that work your arms, legs, abdominal muscles, back and chest.

As you work on strength, it is also a good idea to include aerobic exercise, such as walking, to build your endurance and improve overall health, and balance exercises, to reduce your risk of falling.

Sarcopenia diet

A high-quality diet with plenty of protein, including protein from plant foods such as beans and nuts

You are likely to get the best results when you combine a protein-rich diet with strength training.

Falls and Fractures in Older Adults

 

More than one in four people aged 65 years or older fall each year. Falls can result in hip or arm fractures and other injuries. The risk of falling — and fall-related problems — rises with age.

Thus many older adults fear falling, even if they have not fallen before. This fear may lead them to avoid activities such as walking, shopping, or taking part in social activities. But staying active is important to keeping the body healthy and actually helps to prevent falls.

Many things can cause a fall:

• Your eyesight, hearing and reflexes might not be as sharp as they were when you were younger.
• Certain conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease, or problems with your thyroid, nerves, feet, or blood vessels can affect your balance and lead to a fall.
• Conditions that cause rushed movement to the bathroom, such as incontinence, may also increase the chance of falling.
• Older adults with mild cognitive impairment or certain types of dementia are at higher risk of falling.
• Age-related loss of muscle mass (known as sarcopenia), problems with balance and gait, and blood pressure that drops too much when you get up from lying down or sitting (called postural hypotension).
• Foot problems that cause pain, and unsafe footwear such as backless shoes or high heels, can also increase the risk of falling.
• Some medications can increase a person’s risk of falling because they cause side effects such as dizziness or confusion.
• Safety hazards in the home or community environment can also cause falls.

Steps to take to prevent falls:

• Stay physically active.
  Regular exercise improves muscles and makes you stronger. Exercise also helps keep your joints, tendons and ligaments flexible. Mild weight-bearing activities, such as walking or climbing stairs, may slow bone loss from osteoporosis, a disease that makes bones weak and more likely to break.

• Try balance and strength training exercises.
  Yoga, Pilates and Tai Chi can all improve balance and muscle strength. You can also try lifting weights or using resistance bands to build strength.

• Fall-proof your home that will help you avoid falls and ensure your safety.
  
  
• Have your eyes and hearing tested - Even small changes in sight and hearing are linked to an increased risk for falls.

• Find out about the side effects of any medicines you take such as feeling sleepy or dizzy.
  
  
• Get enough sleep - If you are tired, you are more likely to fall.

• Avoid or limit alcohol. Too much alcohol can lead to balance problems and falls.
• Stand up slowly. Getting up too quickly can cause your blood pressure to drop. That can make you feel wobbly.
  
  
• Use an assistive device if you need help feeling steady when walking. Using right size canes and walkers correctly can help prevent falls.
  
  
• Take extra caution when walking on wet or icy surfaces.
  
  
• Keep your hands free. Use a shoulder bag, fanny pack, or backpack to leave your hands free to hold on to railings.
  
  
• Choose the right footwear. To fully support your feet, wear nonskid, rubber-soled, low-heeled shoes. Do not walk on stairs or floors in socks or in shoes and slippers with smooth soles.
  
  
• Always tell your doctor if you have fallen. A fall can alert your doctor to a new medical problem or issues with your medications or eyesight that can be corrected.
  
  
• Keep your bones strong (by getting enough calcium and vitamin D) to prevent fall-related fractures. Healthy bones may help prevent serious injury, such as breaking a hip or other bone. To keep bones strong:

o    Try to get at least 150 minutes per week of physical activity.  

o    Quit smoking and avoid or limit alcohol use. Tobacco and alcohol use may decrease your bone mass and increase your chance of fractures.

o    Try to maintain a healthy weight. Being underweight increases the risk of bone loss and broken bones.