ONLY GOOD NEWS
A healthy dose of optimism to kickstart your week
John Stennard, a healthy volunteer, taking the Fastball test in his home. Source: BRACE Dementia Research
Helping Hands: UCLA engineers have built a brain-computer interface that lets paralyzed patients control robotic arms with their thoughts. The system combines an EEG cap that reads brain signals with AI that acts as a “co-pilot,” interpreting what users want to do. This could potentially enable people with limited physical mobility, like those suffering from paralysis or neurological conditions, to carry out everyday tasks independently without the risk of invasive brain surgery.
Fast Track: Scientists at the University of Bath claim to have developed a three-minute brainwave test called ‘Fastball’ that can spot signs of Alzheimer’s years before traditional diagnosis methods. The test passively monitors brain responses to images using EEG technology and is reportedly effective even when administered at home. The tool could potentially help identify Alzheimer’s risk in people who currently go undiagnosed, catching the disease 10-20 years earlier than current methods.
Stroke Stop: AstraZeneca has created an experimental pill called ‘baxdrostat’ that reportedly lowers stubborn high blood pressure that typically doesn’t respond to standard treatments. The drug works by blocking aldosterone, a hormone that causes the body to retain salt and water. With roughly half of hypertension patients unable to rein in their condition with current medications, this could help patients avoid heart attacks, strokes, and kidney failure, if it passes clinical trials.