Cognito Therapeutics is Testing a Headset that Treats a Few Conditions
Colin Smith — March 7, 2024 — Lifestyle
Cognito Therapeutics is a biotech startup that is developing a novel therapy for Alzheimer’s disease using a headset that delivers light and sound stimulation to the brain. The headset, which consists of a pair of glasses and headphones, is designed to evoke gamma wave activity in the brain, which is impaired in Alzheimer’s patients. Gamma waves are associated with learning and memory, and stimulating them could potentially preserve brain structure, cognition, and function. Cognito’s headset received the FDA Breakthrough Device Designation for the treatment of cognitive and functional symptoms associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The headset is based on the research of MIT neuroscientists Li-Huei Tsai and Ed Boyden, who are cofounders of Cognito Therapeutics. They discovered that exposing mice to light and sound at a specific frequency reduced amyloid plaques and improved memory in the animals. Amyloid plaques are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, and their accumulation is thought to damage brain cells and disrupt communication. Cognito’s headset aims to replicate this effect in humans by delivering personalized light and sound therapy to each patient. The company is currently testing its technology in clinical trials involving hundreds of people with early- to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Image Credit: Cognito Therapeutics
The headset is based on the research of MIT neuroscientists Li-Huei Tsai and Ed Boyden, who are cofounders of Cognito Therapeutics. They discovered that exposing mice to light and sound at a specific frequency reduced amyloid plaques and improved memory in the animals. Amyloid plaques are one of the hallmarks of Alzheimer’s disease, and their accumulation is thought to damage brain cells and disrupt communication. Cognito’s headset aims to replicate this effect in humans by delivering personalized light and sound therapy to each patient. The company is currently testing its technology in clinical trials involving hundreds of people with early- to mid-stage Alzheimer’s disease.
Image Credit: Cognito Therapeutics
Trend Themes
1. Personalized Cognitive Stimulation - Opportunity for developing tailored therapy solutions that target specific brain activities in patients with neurodegenerative diseases.
2. Neuroscience-inspired Wearable Technology - Potential for integrating brain research findings into wearable devices for therapeutic purposes in healthcare.
3. Gamma Wave Stimulation Innovation - Exploration of novel methods to induce gamma wave activity in the brain for enhancing cognitive functions and memory retention.
Industry Implications
1. Biotechnology - Innovative applications of biotech in developing advanced therapies for neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's disease.
2. Healthtech - Integration of cutting-edge technology in healthcare to create effective solutions for cognitive and functional symptoms associated with Alzheimer's disease.
3. Wearable Technology - Opportunities for wearable devices to revolutionize the treatment and management of neurological disorders through personalized therapies.
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