A US research company is in the process of human trials for an alternative treatment for depression. It is about a brain implant which should be performed on a patient who does not respond to conventional treatments. The objective is to restore the neural networks and carry out a therapy with electrical impulses in regions of the brain affected by depression.
New therapy for depression will use brain implant
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Check out the picture of depression in the world, as well as the new therapy being studied.
depression in the world
According to the World Organization for Health, depression already affects 5% of all adults worldwide. In addition, it is one of the main causes of incapacitation of people, which shows its relevance in the field of public health. Conventional treatment of depression, based on psychotherapy and medication, is not always effective, bringing the need for new therapies.
new therapy
The North American company Inner Cosmos will carry out a test with a patient from the state of Missouri, in the United States. He will have a brain implant that will sit under the skin of his scalp for a year. The implant consists of an electrode and a prescription capsule, which attaches to the patient's hair.
The device must rebalance the neural networks responsible for the pathology of depression, by emitting electrical signals. These signals will stimulate the region of the brain affected by the disease, which is the left prefrontal cortex. The stimulus will happen every day for 15 minutes. In addition, the entire implant system is controlled by a cell phone application, where it will be possible to see charts of mood and depression to provide information to doctors.
brain implants
Several companies, in addition to Inner Cosmos, are developing brain implants, such as Elon Musk's Neuralink and Synchron.
The projects aim to promote alternative therapies for patients suffering from paralysis, using a thought-controlled application. However, it is important to note that this type of implant is more invasive, as it may require a surgical procedure.
