(Press-News.org) The R&D on neuromodulation technology for the treatment and management of metabolic syndrome conducted by a team led by Dr. Ki-young Shin of Human Care Electro-Medical Device Research Center, Electro-Medical Equipment Research Division of KERI is underway smoothly.
Metabolic syndrome is a complex of multiple metabolic abnormalities, including obesity, high blood pressure, and high triglycerides, often caused by poor diet and lack of exercise. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), one in eight people worldwide is overweight, making obesity treatment one of the most prominent markets currently.
There are various types of obesity treatments including drug injections and pharmaceuticals, but such chemical treatments often come with potential side effects when taken over for a long period. Accordingly, the team led by Dr. Shin of KERI has proposed a novel approach which is to suppress appetite by stimulating cerebral cortex electrically through scalp.
The official name of the electrical stimulation technique is transcranial random noise stimulation (tRNS). Through years of research, the team identified the possibility that non-invasive electrical stimulation of the dorsolateral prefrontal1) cortex2) with tRNS technology could induce appetite suppression.
1) The frontal lobe is located in the front of the brain and consists of three parts: the medial prefrontal lobe (motivation, initiation and maintenance of behavior), the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (execution function, planning, flexibility, and abstract thinking), and the orbitofrontal cortex (impulse control and detecting danger).
2) Cortex: A collection of nerve cells covering the surface of the cerebrum.
Three key technologies are required for such studies. ▲ A technology that can accurately deliver the right electrical stimulation to the specific area of interest, ▲ an electrode technology that can penetrate into the space between the hairs and make contact with the scalp, and ▲ a monitoring technology that can confirm that the electrical stimulation has been delivered to the target point and has triggered a change in brain activity. All of these are currently under development by Dr. Shin’s team and the team possesses an advanced level of technologies.
KERI conducted a clinical trial with professor Hyung-jin Choi’s team at Seoul National University Hospital to demonstrate the clinical utility of tRNS stimulation using commercially available electrical stimulators. The goal of the clinical trial was to prove that tRNS stimulation is effective in reducing appetite. The trial included 60 female volunteers, 30 in the tRNS group and 30 in the active sham group. The trial consisted of six sessions of electrical stimulation with two to three days of interval for two weeks. The electrical stimulation utilized a barely perceptible current of 2 mA for 20 minutes per session.
The results showed that the tRNS treatment group was effective in reducing appetite, willingness to eat, and hunger compared to the placebo group. The clinical trial also showed that tRNS can help treat emotional eating, meaning that the tendency to eat to process or relieve emotions such as stress, depression, anxiety, and joy was significantly reduced. As the trial was conducted only for two weeks, long-term weight loss effect was not confirmed but participants reported significant appetite suppression.
Dr. Shin said, “Although the technology is not yet complete and needs further research and verification, if this electrostimulation treatment equipment with far fewer side effects than existing obesity treatments is commercialized and can be used at home instead of in hospitals, it will provide an easy and simple method for daily appetite suppression management.“ He added, "Especially when people are under stress or difficulty, many people eat food due to emotional hunger, and if digital healthcare technology that combines electrostimulation treatment and exercise therapy is introduced, it will enhance weight loss effects and help individuals manage their health more effectively.“
The research team is scheduled to complete the first phase of the project (2022-2024) this year, and aims to validate the developed technology academically and clinically through follow-up research, including the second phase of the project, and promote technology transfer to companies.
<KERI is a government-funded research institute under the National Research Council of Science and Technology of the Ministry of Science and ICT.>
END
Brain electrical stimulation suppresses appetite. A new frontier in obesity treatment?
Dr. Ki-young Shin‘s research team at KERI conducts R&D on “neuromodulation technology” Clinical trials involving 60 participants conducted in collaboration with the professor Hyung-jin Choi of Seoul National University Hospital
2024-08-12
[Attachments] See images for this press release:
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Eco-conscious fashionistas hampered by geographical barriers to return clothing
2024-08-12
Eco-conscious consumers are not well-served by clothing companies claiming green credentials, as shoppers’ location has a major impact on the effectiveness of clothing return schemes, a new study reveals.
Environmental circular economy initiatives for activewear companies are limited by where firms and consumers are located, preventing them from being fully effective.
The clothing industry is one of the biggest global polluters, with fast fashion companies creating cheap clothing that gets thrown away after one or two uses and ends up in landfill. According to the European ...
Redefining the computer whiz: research shows diverse skills valued by youth
2024-08-12
FOR A COPY OF THE STUDY AHEAD OF PUBLICATION, PLEASE ENSURE YOU ARE SIGNED UP TO TAYLOR & FRANCIS’ EMBARGO AREA AND THEN VISIT: https://newsroom.taylorandfrancisgroup.com/redefining-the-computer-whiz-research-shows-diverse-skills-valued-by-youth/
New study reveals diverse perceptions of the 'ideal' computer science student among young people.
Researchers at the University of Reading, with colleagues at King's College London, have uncovered a more nuanced view of what makes an 'ideal' computer science student, challenging long-held stereotypes of geeky, clever, ...
Fern becomes first in suborder to be classed as “independent gametophyte”
2024-08-10
Tokyo, Japan – Researchers from Tokyo Metropolitan University have discovered that the fern Hymenasplenium murakami-hatanakae can become independent gametophytes i.e. live for long periods without a spore-producing sporophyte. They collected specimens from Izu-Oshima Island, Japan, and used DNA analysis to show that this Aspleniineae fern, a suborder encompassing thirty percent of ferns on the planet, was part of this rare class. Studying the species further promises to reveal more about how ferns diversify and adapt.
The “alternation of generations” in plants and algae is the intricate cycle by which they reproduce. Each ...
Study reveals Canadian wildfires are affecting US air quality and raising health concerns
2024-08-09
Climate-driven wildfire events are rapidly transferring harmful particulate matter containing toxic chemicals over long distances, compromising air quality in the New Jersey and New York City areas, according to Rutgers Health research.
Published in Environmental Science & Technology and to be featured on the cover of the journal’s next issue, the study assessed the physical and chemical characteristics of wildfire-related particulate matter and was the first to report this characterization from a climate-driven wildfire event in the densely populated Northeast region.
“Particulate ...
As temperatures break records, many are unaware of symptoms of heat-related illnesses
2024-08-09
PHILADELPHIA – With NASA data showing that July 22, 2024, was the hottest day on record and indications that July may have been the hottest month, an Annenberg Public Policy Center survey conducted in mid-July found that most people know three of the symptoms of a heat-related illness but do not know the location of their nearest cooling center. At the same time, increasing numbers of people think that heat waves are becoming more frequent and intense and affecting their daily activities.
Knowledge of cooling centers in the case of extreme heat
Although the locations of cooling centers, or indoor air-conditioned facilities such as libraries, ...
Researchers discover new mechanism to cool buildings while saving energy
2024-08-09
With temperatures rising globally, the need for more sustainable cooling options is also growing. Researchers at UCLA and their colleagues have now found an affordable and scalable process to cool buildings in the summer and heat them in the winter.
Led by Aaswath Raman, an associate professor of materials science and engineering at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering, the research team recently published a study in Cell Reports Physical Science detailing a new method to manipulate the movement ...
New study will provide HIV prevention and treatment for incarcerated people with opioid use disorder
2024-08-09
The University of Massachusetts Amherst and Tufts Medical Center are conducting a study to provide HIV prevention, diagnosis and treatment for people with opioid use disorders who are incarcerated in the Boston area.
The study is funded with a $4.74 million CONNECT grant from the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).
Elizabeth Evans, professor of community health education in the UMass Amherst School of Public Health and Health Sciences, and Dr. Alysse Wurcel, a ...
Russian invasion of Ukraine could have lasting impacts on global economy, environment
2024-08-09
As the Russian invasion of Ukraine stretches into its third year, international trade has felt the effects as sanctions on Russian exports have expanded. Now researchers have found that the invasion may not only have significant short-term impacts on the global timber markets but may leave lasting effects on the global economy and the environment.
These findings are detailed in a new study which projects the impact of sanctions on Russia and military disruption in Ukraine on the global wood product markets. Researchers compared two projected scenario outcomes based on the Global Forest Products Market model, one ...
Investigating a critical factor for promoting drug-context associations and relapse
2024-08-09
Most people wouldn’t think twice after seeing sugar spilled on a counter. But for someone with a history of cocaine use, this visual cue could trigger powerful associations with their past drug use and a compulsive urge to seek the drug.
Certain circuits within the brain help to form natural associations between one’s experiences and the context in which those experiences occur. These associations play a critical role in the orchestration of adaptive learning. When addictive substances are introduced, this coupling mechanism can be hijacked so that ...
New material for optically-controlled magnetic memory discovered
2024-08-09
Researchers at the University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering (PME) have made unexpected progress toward developing a new optical memory that can quickly and energy-efficiently store and access computational data. While studying a complex material composed of manganese, bismuth and tellurium (MnBi2Te4), the researchers realized that the material’s magnetic properties changed quickly and easily in response to light. This means that a laser could be used to encode information ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Protective genetic mutation offers new hope for understanding autism and brain development
Colombia's Dr. Natalia Acosta-Baena uncovers critical link between brain development and degeneration
How can we reduce adolescent pregnancies in low- and middle-income countries?
When sun protection begets malnutrition: vitamin D deficiency in Japanese women
Cannabis use can cause chromosomal damage, increasing cancer risk and harming offspring
Survey finds many Americans apply misguided and counterproductive advice to combat holiday weight gain
New study reveals half a century of change on Britain’s iconic limestone pavements
Green flight paths could unlock sustainable aviation, new research suggests
Community partners key to success of vaccine clinic focused on neurodevelopmental conditions
Low-carbon collaborative dual-layer optimization for energy station considering joint electricity and heat demand response
McMaster University researchers uncover potential treatment for rare genetic disorders
The return of protectionism: The impact of the Sino-US trade war
UTokyo and NARO develop new vertical seed distribution trait for soybean breeding
Research into UK’s use of plastic packaging finds households ‘wishcycle’ rather than recycle – risking vast contamination
Vaccine shows promise against aggressive breast cancer
Adverse events affect over 1 in 3 surgery patients, US study finds
Outsourcing adult social care has contributed to England’s care crisis, argue experts
The Lancet: Over 800 million adults living with diabetes, more than half not receiving treatment, global study suggests
New therapeutic approach for severe COVID-19: faster recovery and reduction in mortality
Plugged wells and reduced injection lower induced earthquake rates in Oklahoma
Yin selected as a 2024 American Society of Agronomy Fellow
Long Covid could cost the economy billions every year
Bluetooth technology unlocks urban animal secrets
This nifty AI tool helps neurosurgeons find sneaky cancer cells
Treatment advances, predictive biomarkers stand to improve bladder cancer care
NYC's ride-hailing fee failed to ease Manhattan traffic, new NYU Tandon study reveals
Meteorite contains evidence of liquid water on Mars 742 million years ago
Self-reported screening helped reduce distressing symptoms for pediatric patients with cancer
Which risk factors are linked to having a severe stroke?
Opening borders for workers: Abe’s profound influence on Japan’s immigration regime
[Press-News.org] Brain electrical stimulation suppresses appetite. A new frontier in obesity treatment?Dr. Ki-young Shin‘s research team at KERI conducts R&D on “neuromodulation technology” Clinical trials involving 60 participants conducted in collaboration with the professor Hyung-jin Choi of Seoul National University Hospital