JP2004321249A - Brain function activation apparatus and method - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a brain function activation apparatus and method for activating a brain function. <P>SOLUTION: The brain function activation apparatus 10 is provided with: a head stimulation part 11 which gives physical stimulation for substantially hindering the coagulation of senile plaque or substantially promoting the decomposition of the senile plaque toward the inside of a human body head; and a control part 14 for controlling the stimulation of physical stimulation. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

[0001]
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a brain function activating device for activating a brain function and a method thereof.
[0002]
[Prior art]
In Japan, where the population is aging rapidly, it is said that there are about 1.5 million dementia patients, of which about 80% are of two types, cerebrovascular dementia and Alzheimer's dementia. Has been done. Cerebrovascular dementia is dementia caused by cerebrovascular disorders such as cerebral infarction, cerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage, and Alzheimer's dementia is progressive dementia caused by degeneration of cerebral nerve cells.
[0003]
In recent years, research results on Alzheimer's type dementia have remarkably elucidated a considerable part of its onset mechanism (for example, see Non-Patent Documents 1 to 3). Current research suggests that the closest source is the accumulation of senile plaques in the brain. These senile plaques are aggregates of a protein called β-amyloid, and are accumulated especially in an area such as the prefrontal cortex controlling theoretical thinking and the hippocampus related to memory in many patients with Alzheimer's type dementia. This accumulation of senile plaques disrupts nerve cell activity and eventually leads to nerve cell death. Among β-amyloid, a protein having a peptide bond to 42 amino acid groups called Aβ42 is particularly toxic. Note that β-amyloid is also referred to as Aβ or amyloid protein, and Aβ protein is also referred to as Aβ peptide.
[0004]
β-amyloid is also produced in healthy subjects, and is said to be accumulated in the brain before it exhibits dementia symptoms. For this reason, institutes studying the treatment of Alzheimer's dementia, such as pharmaceutical manufacturers, are researching and developing β-amyloid inhibitors that inhibit the aggregation of β-amyloid and inhibit the formation of senile plaques (for example, , Non-Patent Document 1).
[0005]
It is said that it is effective to carry out (1) nutrition (meal), (2) exercise, (3) intellectual activity, etc. as a method for preventing dementia. As for nutrition, a diet with low calories and low cholesterol is desired, and intake of blue fish and vitamin E rich in DHA (doccohexahydrochloride) is considered to be good. For exercise, moderate walking is considered good, and in recent years, Tai Chi, which has a good balance function, is also considered to be good. As for intellectual activities, paintings, handicrafts, crossword puzzles and the like are said to be good. This supports the "reserve capacity hypothesis" (see, for example, Non-Patent Document 1) that the more complex and large the number of synaptic connections that constitute a neural network formed by neural cells (neurons) in the brain, the more difficult it is to develop dementia. Things.
[0006]
On the other hand, acetylcholine-based activators have been most frequently tried as therapeutic agents for Alzheimer-type dementia. The acetylcholine activator is intended to improve symptoms by suppressing the decrease in the activity of acetylcholine, which is involved in memory and learning, in Alzheimer-type dementia. In Japan, a cholinesterase inhibitor called donepezil hydrochloride has been approved, but its efficacy is said to be about one year, and it delays the progress of dementia and is not a curative drug.
[0007]
In addition, as therapeutic drugs for Alzheimer's dementia, drugs related to neuropeptides, drugs related to nerve growth factor, anti-inflammatory drugs, steroids, female hormones and the like have been tried (for example, see Non-Patent Document 4). .
[0008]
[Non-patent document 1]
RE. Tanzi et al. (Translated by Akemi Tanigaki) "Solving the Mystery of Dementia" Bunbun Publishing, 2002
[Non-patent document 2]
St. George Hislop, “Mystery of Alzheimer's Disease Solved,” Nikkei Science, March 2001 [Non-Patent Document 3]
See Serge Gautier and Jeffrey L. Cummings (Edition) "Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders Annual 2002" Martin Dunitz Ltd.
[Non-patent document 4]
Shin Kitamura, "Treatment for Cerebrovascular Dementia and Alzheimer's Disease", Jichi Medical Journal, 1999. , Vol. 66, no. 1, pp. 25-55
[0009]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
By the way, even though there are approved treatments, pharmacotherapy currently requires a doctor's prescription and cannot be easily obtained at a pharmacy like a case medicine. Further, there is no drug prescribed from the viewpoint of prevention of dementia for those who have not developed symptoms.
[0010]
Considering the statistical prediction that the number of elderly people aged 65 and over will increase by 2035, prevention and early improvement of elderly people with dementia are very important issues from the viewpoint of suppressing national medical expenses.
[0011]
The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and prevents dementia by non-invasively inhibiting the aggregation of β-amyloid, and a brain function activating device for activating brain function, and The aim is to provide a method.
[0012]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
To achieve the above object, a brain function activating device according to claim 1 provides a physical stimulus that substantially prevents aggregation of senile plaques in the brain or substantially promotes degradation of senile plaques. A head stimulating unit provided toward the inside of the unit; and a control unit for controlling a stimulation amount of the physical stimulus. The method for activating a brain function according to claim 8 applies a physical stimulus to the inside of the human head that substantially prevents aggregation of senile plaques in the brain or substantially promotes degradation of senile plaques. It is composed.
[0013]
The brain function activating device and the method having the above-described configuration are capable of directing a physical stimulus to the inside of a living head, which substantially prevents aggregation of senile plaques in the brain or substantially promotes degradation of senile plaques. As a result, the progress of the accumulation of senile plaques is delayed, and the brain function is activated.
[0014]
The brain function activating device according to claim 2 is the brain function activating device according to claim 1, wherein the physical stimulus is an electromagnetic wave. The brain function activating device according to claim 3 is the brain function activating device according to claim 1, wherein the physical stimulus is infrared light. A brain function activating device according to a fourth aspect is the brain function activating device according to the first aspect, wherein the physical stimulus is a near infrared ray. The brain function activating device according to claim 5 is the brain function activating device according to claim 1, wherein the physical stimulation is a microwave.
[0015]
In a brain function activating device having such a configuration, as a physical stimulus, an electromagnetic wave, preferably an infrared ray, more preferably a near infrared ray, and more preferably a microwave, which easily penetrates the scalp or the skull and acts on the brain. Therefore, a physical stimulus can be reliably applied to the brain non-invasively.
[0016]
Furthermore, the brain function activating device according to claim 6 is the brain function activating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device is changed by the physical stimulation inside the living body head. An estimation unit for estimating a state is further provided, and the control unit controls a stimulation amount of the physical stimulus based on an estimation result of the estimation unit.
[0017]
In the brain function activating device having such a configuration, it is possible to estimate the applied physical quantity and control the applied physical quantity by feedback control.
[0018]
A brain function activating device according to claim 7 is the brain function activating device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device is changed by the physical stimulation inside the living body head. A measurement unit for measuring a state is further provided, and the control unit controls a stimulus amount of the physical stimulus based on a measurement result of the measurement unit.
[0019]
In the brain function activating device having such a configuration, the applied physical quantity can be measured, and the applied physical quantity can be controlled by feedback control.
[0020]
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, embodiments according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.
(Configuration of the embodiment)
FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of the brain function activation device. FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a brain temperature table. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an infrared absorption spectrum of cholesteryl oleate. The horizontal axis in FIG. 3 is the wave number expressed in units of / cm, and the vertical axis is the absorbance (absorbance).
[0021]
In FIG. 1, the brain function activating device 10 includes a head stimulating unit 11, a driving unit 12, a control unit 13, a storage unit 14, a display unit 15, and an input unit 16.
[0022]
The head stimulating unit 11 is a member that applies a predetermined physical stimulus to the inside of the human head 100 that substantially prevents aggregation of the senile plaque in the brain or substantially promotes decomposition of the senile plaque. In particular, it is a member that emits light, that is, electromagnetic waves in a broad sense. In the present embodiment, the head stimulating unit 11 includes, for example, one or a plurality of light emitting elements that emit microwaves, near infrared rays, or infrared rays. The head stimulating unit 11 is arranged at a position where the physical stimulus output from the head stimulating unit 11 acts on a predetermined portion of the living body where the physical stimulus substantially acts on the prefrontal cortex or the hippocampus in the brain. . In addition, since the head stimulating unit 11 is directly or indirectly disposed on or near the stimulating site 101, in FIG. 1, the head stimulating unit 11 and the stimulating site 101 are represented by the same symbol ●. ing. The stimulus site 101 is determined according to the type of the physical stimulus, the amount of the applied physical stimulus, the number of the stimulus sites 101, and the like. In the present embodiment, in order to stimulate the prefrontal cortex, A stimulus site A101-A on one side, a stimulus site B101-B at the center of the forehead slightly above the eyebrows, and a stimulus site C101-C on the other side of the forehead. Although FIG. 1 shows three places, the present invention is not limited to this, and any number of one place, two places, or four places or more may be used. The driving unit 12 is a circuit that is connected to the head stimulating unit 11 and drives the head stimulating unit 11.
[0023]
The storage unit 14 includes a brain temperature table storage unit 141 for storing a brain temperature table, a control program for controlling each unit of the brain function activation apparatus 10, data necessary for executing the control program, and execution of the control program. This is a circuit for storing data and the like inside, and is, for example, a memory such as a RAM (Random Access Memory) or a ROM (Read Only Memory). As shown in FIG. 2, the brain temperature table is a look-up table showing a correspondence relationship between the amount of stimulation and the temperature of the brain (brain temperature) that is substantially affected by the physical stimulation by the head stimulating unit 11. Yes, for example, created by a clinical test, or created experimentally or by model calculation using a head phantom, and stored in the brain function activation device 10 in advance.
[0024]
The control unit 13 includes a drive unit control unit 131, a stimulus amount calculation unit 132, and a brain temperature estimation unit 133, and substantially prevents aggregation of senile plaques in the brain or substantially accelerates decomposition of senile plaques. This is a circuit for controlling a stimulus amount, a stimulus time, a stimulus timing, and the like of a physical stimulus provided by the head stimulating unit 11 through the driving unit 12 in such a manner as described above. The control unit 13 includes, for example, a microprocessor and the like. The driving unit control unit 131 controls the on / off of the head stimulating unit 11 by the driving unit 12. The stimulus amount calculation unit 132 measures the on-time of the head stimulus unit 11 and calculates the stimulus amount by multiplying the output amount per unit time of the head stimulus unit 11 by the on-time. The brain temperature estimation unit 133 estimates the brain temperature by referring to the brain temperature table in the storage unit 14 based on the stimulation amount calculated by the stimulation amount calculation unit 132.
[0025]
The input unit 16 is a device for inputting ON / OFF of a power source, operation start, operation stop, and the like to the brain function activation device 10, and includes, for example, a plurality of push button switches. The display unit 15 is a device that displays input contents input by the input unit 16 and displays an operation state of the brain function activation device 10, and is, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD) or an organic EL display. .
[0026]
Next, the operation of the present embodiment will be described.
(Operation of the embodiment)
When the head stimulating unit 11 is arranged at the stimulating site 101 and the input unit 16 instructs to turn on the power of the brain function activating device 10 and to start the operation, the driving unit control unit 131 of the control unit 13 Driving of the head stimulating unit 11 is started via 12, and the start of driving is notified to the stimulus amount calculating unit 132. In this way, physical stimulation is started toward the inside of the human head 100, and the temperature in the brain rises and becomes higher than the normal temperature. By applying the property that a biological protein denatures at a certain temperature or higher to β-amyloid, aggregation of β-amyloid is inhibited by an increase in brain temperature due to physical stimulation.
[0027]
The stimulus amount calculation unit 132 notified of the drive start starts measuring the on-time, and calculates the stimulus amount C by multiplying the on-time by the output amount per unit time of the head stimulation unit 11 at regular time intervals. I do. Then, the stimulus amount calculation unit 132 notifies the brain temperature estimation unit 133 of the stimulus amount C of the calculation result. The fixed time interval is shortened when the amount of stimulation per unit time is large, and longer when the amount of stimulation per unit time is small.
[0028]
The brain temperature estimating unit 133 searches the brain temperature table corresponding to the notified stimulus amount C from the brain temperature table in the brain temperature table storage unit 141, and controls the brain temperature T in the search result as a driving unit control. Notify section 131.
[0029]
When the notified brain temperature T is smaller than the predetermined value α, the driving unit control unit 131 drives the head stimulating unit 11 via the driving unit 12 to continue the physical stimulation. On the other hand, when the notified brain temperature T is equal to or higher than the predetermined value α, the driving unit control unit 131 stops driving the head stimulating unit 11 via the driving unit 12. The predetermined value α is a temperature at which brain function is impaired due to an increase in brain temperature, and is determined by, for example, a clinical test with reference to the results of animal experiments.
[0030]
By operating in this manner, the brain function activating device 10 can increase the temperature in the brain by physical stimulation, inhibit the aggregation of β-amyloid, and promote the degradation of senile plaques. As a result, the brain function activation device 10 can prevent dementia and activate brain functions. Further, since the rise in the brain temperature T due to the physical stimulation can be suppressed to less than the predetermined value α, the brain brain temperature T does not abnormally rise.
[0031]
In the above description, the on-time of the head stimulating unit 11 is controlled by the brain temperature table indicating the correspondence between the stimulus amount C and the brain temperature T, but until the brain temperature returns to the normal state. The drive unit control unit 141 may be configured to automatically restart the physical stimulation after being turned off. With this configuration, a physical stimulus can be intermittently applied to the brain. Further, after the temperature in the brain reaches the predetermined value α, the drive unit control unit 141 may be configured so that the on / off operation is repeated at predetermined time intervals so that the temperature in the brain changes within a certain range. With this configuration, a physical stimulus can be continuously applied to the brain. Furthermore, after the brain temperature reaches the predetermined value α, the drive controller 141 may be configured to drive the head stimulating unit 11 with a stimulation amount at which the brain temperature becomes substantially constant. With such a configuration, a physical stimulus can be continuously applied to the brain. In short, to suppress the rise in temperature in the brain and to supply physical energy by physical stimulation to prevent aggregation of substances such as β-amyloid or to decompose senile plaques composed of β-amyloid Since there is a trade-off relationship, the drive unit control unit 141 controls the head stimulating unit 11 so that more physical energy is supplied while ensuring safety in the brain.
[0032]
In the above description, the brain temperature T is estimated from the stimulus amount C using the brain temperature table. However, a measuring unit for measuring the brain temperature T is further provided, and the brain temperature T is calculated from the output of the measuring unit. May be obtained. The measuring unit is, for example, a microwave radiometer (Yasuhito Niwa, Kyoko Maruyama, Shizuo Mizushina, et al., "Radiometric Weight Function in Noninvasive Measurement of Deep Neonatal Brain Temperature" Research Report of the Institute of Electronics, Shizuoka University, 1998, Vol. .33, pp 115-118). Further, for example, the measurement unit may be a device that applies a high-frequency magnetic field and a gradient magnetic field to the measurement target, collects magnetic resonance signals from the measurement target, and measures the temperature of the measurement target based on the magnetic resonance signals. This device measures the temperature from the magnetic resonance phenomenon using the fact that the chemical shift of water protons exhibits temperature dependence. Each of these measuring units can measure the temperature in the brain in a non-invasive manner.
[0033]
Here, as the above-mentioned physical stimulus, for example, an infrared ray that is permeable to the living body and raises the temperature of the site of action, particularly a near infrared ray that has a high permeability, is used. Light in these wavelength bands is hardly absorbed by water, which is a main component of the living body, and hemoglobin in blood, and therefore has transparency to the living body. In the case of using near infrared rays, the head stimulating unit 11 is, for example, a light emitting diode or a semiconductor laser that emits near infrared rays having a wavelength of about 800 nm to about 1000 nm.
[0034]
Further, the above-mentioned physical stimulus may be a microwave that can reach a deep part of the body and raise the temperature of the site of action.
[0035]
Further, as the above-mentioned physical stimulus, red light that is transparent to a living body is used. Red light can degrade cholesterol as well as increase the temperature of the site of action. Cholesterol becomes cholesterol ester by binding to fatty acids, accumulates on the inner wall of arteries, and induces arteriosclerosis and myocardial infarction. In general, it is known that a substance has a natural frequency and resonates when an external force corresponding to the natural frequency is applied. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an infrared absorption spectrum of cholesteryl oleate. As shown in FIG. 3, an ester bond connecting cholesterol and a fatty acid has a stretching vibration mode of 5.75 μm. Has a large absorption peak at this wavelength. Therefore, the cholesterol ester bond is broken by irradiating an electromagnetic wave having a wavelength corresponding to this peak. For example, irradiation with a free electron laser having a power density of 1.5 mW and a peak wavelength of 5.75 μm can remove only cholesterol ester bonds without damaging normal tissues, that is, without inducing degeneration of surrounding tissues. (For example, see Kurio Kunio, "Cholesterol Degradation" Optoelectronic Technology Trend Report, 2002, pp. 482-483). As described above, when an electromagnetic wave having a certain wavelength is irradiated, if the binding force of a substance is smaller than the energy of the electromagnetic wave, the bond is separated, and aggregation of the substance is prevented.
[0036]
On the other hand, cholesterol is associated with Alzheimer's dementia, and it has been reported that taking a hyperlipidemic drug such as a statin that reduces cholesterol improves dementia symptoms (for example, Non-Patent Document 3, and Kanahiko Yanagisawa, “Cholesterol and Alzheimer's Disease”, 26th Annual Meeting of the Medical Association, 2003, pp. 54). In addition, there are reports that statins are effective in suppressing the production and aggregation of β-amyloid by the cholesterol-reducing action of statins (above, by Katsuhiko Yanagisawa, “Cholesterol and Alzheimer's Disease”, Abstracts of the 26th Annual Meeting of the Medical Association, 2003) pp. 54). According to this, β-amyloid is excised from β-amyloid precursor protein (referred to as APP) present in the nerve cell membrane to the outside of the cell by the function of “scissors” of β-selectase of the enzyme protein. It has been hypothesized that the presence of cholesterol can cut out a large amount of β-amyloid from APP and promote aggregation, thereby indirectly promoting cholesterol on β-amyloid production and aggregation.
[0037]
From these research facts, by using red light, β-amyloid production / aggregation can be suppressed by a direct thermal effect on β-amyloid and an indirect effect by decomposition of cholesterol, thereby preventing dementia. Alternatively, the brain function can be activated.
[0038]
In addition, by using the above light, that is, electromagnetic waves in a broad sense, it is possible to cause non-invasive action in the brain.
[0039]
Then, photodynamic therapy may be further used in the above-described embodiment. Photodynamic therapy is to administer a photosensitizer that has an affinity for cells constituting a lesion and activates in response to light, and irradiates the photosensitizer that has reached the lesion with light, thereby exposing the photosensitizer to light. It is a therapy that activates and selectively destroys lesions (for example, Mamoru Tamura, “Medical Diagnosis by Light”, Kyoritsu Shuppan, 2001). Activate the photosensitizer by irradiating red light or infrared rays by administering a photosensitizer having affinity for β amyloid or senile plaque, suppress the production and aggregation of β amyloid, and decompose senile plaque Facilitate.
[0040]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, the brain function activating device according to claim 1 and the brain function activating method according to claim 8 substantially prevent aggregation of the senile plaque in the brain or substantially decompose the senile plaque. Since the promoting physical stimulus is applied toward the inside of the living body head, the progress of the accumulation of senile plaques is delayed, and the brain function is activated.
[0041]
The brain function activating device according to claim 2 to the brain function activating device according to claim 5 provide the effect of the invention according to claim 1, in addition to the effect of the invention, as a physical stimulus that penetrates the scalp, skull, etc. Since electromagnetic waves, preferably infrared rays, more preferably near-infrared rays, and microwaves, which easily act on the inside, are used, a physical stimulus can be reliably applied to the brain non-invasively.
[0042]
Furthermore, in addition to the effects of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, the brain function activating device according to claim 6 estimates the applied physical quantity and determines the physical quantity to be applied by feedback control. Can be controlled. Further, the brain function activating device according to claim 7, in addition to the effect of the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 5, further measures the applied physical quantity and determines the physical quantity to be applied by feedback control. Can be controlled.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a brain function activation device.
FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a brain temperature table.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an infrared absorption spectrum of cholesteryl oleate.
[Explanation of symbols]
Reference Signs List 10 Brain function activating device 11 Head stimulation unit 12 Drive unit 13 Control unit 14 Storage unit 101 Stimulation site 131 Drive unit control unit 132 Stimulation amount calculation unit 133 Brain temperature estimation unit 141 Brain temperature table storage unit

Claims (8)

A head stimulating unit that substantially prevents the aggregation of senile plaques in the brain or applies physical stimulus that substantially promotes the decomposition of senile plaques toward the inside of the human head,
A brain function activation device, comprising: a control unit that controls a stimulation amount of the physical stimulation. The brain function activating device according to claim 1, wherein the physical stimulus is an electromagnetic wave. The brain function activating device according to claim 1, wherein the physical stimulus is an infrared ray. The brain function activating device according to claim 1, wherein the physical stimulus is a near infrared ray. The brain function activating device according to claim 1, wherein the physical stimulus is a microwave. Further comprising an estimating unit for estimating a state changed by the physical stimulus inside the living body head,
The brain function activation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a stimulation amount of the physical stimulus based on an estimation result of the estimation unit. Further comprising a measurement unit that measures a state that changes due to the physical stimulus inside the living body head,
The brain function activation device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls a stimulation amount of the physical stimulation based on a measurement result of the measurement unit. A method for activating brain function, wherein a physical stimulus that substantially prevents aggregation of senile plaques in the brain or substantially promotes degradation of senile plaques is applied toward the inside of the human head.

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