Turning back the clock

Research at Sunderland University has shown that regular exposure to low level infra-red light can improve learning performance and kick-start the cognitive function of the brain.

And now human trials are to start to see if the treatment could provide a cure to illnesses like Alzheimers. Experts claim that early stage dementia patients should see an improvement in their cognitive function within four weeks, by wearing a lightweight helmet in their home for just ten minutes a day.

Dr Gordon Dougal, a director of Virulite - a medical research company based in Newton Aycliffe, County Durham, came up with the idea of using a safe level of infra red light on the human brain after it had proved effective in the treatment of cold sores - a process that relies on boosting the cells within the body responsible for killing the virus, rather than attacking it.

Human testing of the infra-red treatment on the brain is due to start this summer and medical experts hope this will halt and even reverse the effects of dementia.