Saturday Quack – the Infra-Red Helmet for Alzheimer’s

The UK Alzheimer’s Society has felt it necessary to comment on the infra-red helmet being used by some people to prevent or halt the progress of Alzheimer’s disease. About a year ago we first heard of this device, which was developed and tested in mice and one patient at the University of Sunderland in UK.

The helmet, to be worn for 10 minutes daily, supplies infra-red rays to the brain tissue through the skull. The concept was described by the inventor in a press conference at that time; the plan was to begin clinical studies as soon as possible. However, an upcoming BBC TV program featuring recently-knighted science-fiction author Terry Patchett stimulated the Alzheimer’s Society warning. People shouldn’t buy the helmet until the results of a well-controlled clinical trial provide some positive evidence.

If you can’t wait until then, take heart. The low level of infra-red light delivered by the helmet is the same as that which occurs in natural sunlight, and is completely safe, say the researchers. So all you have to do is sit in the sun for 10 minutes a day. (Maybe it would help if you shave your head, too?)

However, I doubt that the clinical studies will demonstrate a benefit of infra-red exposure to the head – otherwise we’d have had epidemiologic reports of regional differences in the incidence of Alzheimer’s by now . . . But I hope I’ll have to eat my hat (or helmet).