TR: Future of Neurotechnology
Technology Review: Emerging Technologies and their Impact
I don’t know too much about Zach Lynch, other than that he has a blog and refers to his company as the “neurotechnology market authority”, but there are some interesting tidbits from the TR interview:
TR: Research suggests that antidepressants are effective partly because they stimulate neurogenesis. So companies such as BrainCells, based in San Diego, CA, are screening compounds that promote growth of neural stem cells in the brain. They say these drugs could bring new therapies for depression and, eventually, neurodegenerative diseases.
ZL: It’s an exciting area, and the investment community is certainly interested. But the jury is still out.
TR: We’re also starting to see a new kind of therapy for brain-related illnesses — electrical stimulation. Various types of stimulation devices are now on the market to treat epilepsy, depression, and Parkinson’s disease. What are some of the near- and far-term technologies we’ll see with this kind of device?
ZL: We’re seeing explosive growth in this area because scientists are overcoming many of the hurdles in this area. One example is longer battery life, so devices don’t have to be surgically implanted every five years. Researchers are also developing much smaller devices. Advanced Bionics, for example, has a next-generation stimulator in trials for migraines.
In the neurodevice space, the obesity market is coming on strong. Several companies are working on this, including Medtronics and Leptos Biomedical. In obesity, even a small benefit is a breakthrough, because gastric bypass surgery [one of the most common treatments for morbid obesity] is so invasive.
In the next 10 years, I think we’ll start to see a combination of technologies, like maybe a brain stimulator that releases L-dopa [a treatment for Parkinson's disease]. Whether that’s viable is a whole other question, but that possibility is there because of the microelectronics revolution.
The real breakthrough will come from work on new electrodes. This will transform neurostimulator applications. With these technologies, you can create noninvasive devices and target very specific parts of the brain. It’s like going from a Model T to a Ferrari. Those technologies will present the real competition for drugs.
October 30th, 2007 at 3:10 am
I am coaching a sixth grade team of future problem solvers. We have been given a topic of neurotechnology. My team members must think of 15 to 20 years in the future. What possible ways may a quadraplegic, alzheimer or stroke patient be helped or any other disorder having to do with the brain. In other words, what futuristic assistance might be available in 20 years? We would appreciate any information that you could be of assistance with. We are currently reading articles online and magazine articles.
Thank you
Karin Poe
December 20th, 2007 at 10:12 am
I am a member of a future problem solvers team…we have also been given neurotechnology for a subject. I ifnd myself looking at the same ideas over and over again even though they’re different sites. I need new and futuristic ideas that will be of help to our upcoming competition.if you could help us with this we would be so grateful…..
thank you
kenz =]]]
January 31st, 2008 at 11:55 am
i m also on an fps team and we are also competing for state qualifer. our subject is nuero tech., and a good site to look at is http://www.i has a cheeseburger.com (only if your computer has a security system, cause if you type it in wrong, bad sites will come up
) you can google it, that works better. if you wish to have fun, go to this site. there is lots of things to reasearch here, and loads of funny pics.
February 5th, 2008 at 4:38 pm
I am also a member of a future problem solving team and i was wondering if you could contact me and share the information you recieved. It would be greatly appreciated since we are in the same situation. Please email me at karey.knott@stu.glasgow.kyschools.us
thanks!
Karey Knott