World’s First Brain Implant To Treat Depression Advances Human Testing
Illustration 51838400 © Mopic | Dreamstime.com
A new brain implant aimed at treating depression with small electric pulses has been successfully inserted in the skull of a patient. Now, scientists are preparing for a second trial.
The brain computer interface (BCI), introduced in September, saw doctors shave off a little of the patient’s skull for it to hold electrodes. Inner Cosmos, the neurotechnology company behind the implant, calls this the ‘Digital Pill’. It’s about the size of a penny, and sends pulses to its owner’s left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex every 15 minutes.
The implant also monitors neuronal activity to determine how much stimulation to give the patient’s brain.
The hardware resides under the skin and is positioned non-invasively on the skull, Forbes reports.
This is the first trial of its kind in which an implant is inserted directly into the skull to treat depression. The test will take place for about a year.
Come next month, though, researchers intend to hold a second trial for the Digital Pill, MailOnline reports.
An estimated 280 million people in the world suffer from depression, according to the World Health Organization. The implant may offer a new and different option to help patients overcome the mental disorder, which is usually treated with psychiatry. It could also bash the stigma that depression is merely a temporary fluctuation of moods.
Inner Cosmos CEO Meron Gribetz adds that, following its work with depression, the Digital Pill can be scaled to treat other cognitive issues.
[via Unilad and Forbes, cover illustration 51838400 © Mopic | Dreamstime.com]
