Current Efforts to Improve Health

Challenges
Theme: Health

By: Patricia Andreica

Example 1
Brain-Scanning Technology for Alzheimer’s Treatment
Spectroscopy being used to
identify early stage Alzheimer's
-This technology is a non-invasive optical technique that utilizes
spectroscopy to identify structural changes in the brain and potentially
be a way to assess the effectiveness of treatment (VAntage Point).
-Ongoing, irreversible damage of Alzheimer's is not easy to detect,
unless it is more advanced. Thus, this technology is incredibly useful
as it can be used to detect Alzheimer’s in its earlier stages where
damage is not as progressed.
-This technology was found by Researchers with the VA Bedford and
VA Boston health care systems.
 Technical Details
This scanning technology works by:
1. Positioning two fiber-optic probes on the surface
of a patient temple.
2. One probe delivering near-infrared light non-
invasively and without harm into the patient’s
brain
3. The other probe collects light that scatter back
(VAntage Point).
-This technology mainly focuses on spectroscopy,
which measures how light moves through and bounces
off matter.
-Researchers previously demonstrated the
usefulness of this technology using autopsy brain
samples from deceased volunteers.
-In a newer study, the researchers applied this
technique to three groups of living volunteers:
healthy controls, patients with mild cognitive
impairment, and late-stage patients who had an
Alzheimer’s diagnosis confirmed by autopsy after
they died (VAresearch).
-Through the use a computer algorithm, they were
able to identify patterns in the spectroscopy data.
 Outcomes
In the previous slide, it was mentioned that the researchers did a study involving three groups of living
volunteers. Their results of this were promising and found that this method could potentially detect
Alzheimer's at an early stage (VAresearch).

Next Steps
The spectroscopy method has been accepted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a protocol for
possible clinical use. Before it can be put into practice, more clinical trials will need to be conducted. The
researchers are working on refining the design of the probe and the specifications of the spectrometer,
software, and interpretation of the output (VAresearch).
 Value
This technology is significant because it allows doctors to probe the brain noninvasively all whilst
being inexpensive, meaning it could be put into widespread use. It allows for useful information
about the cognitive state of the brain, thus allowing many lives to be saved, especially considering
how prevalent Alzheimer's disease is.

Societal Impacts of 3 Different Perspectives:

1. Helps many families as they have a chance to save their loved one from this disease.
2. Helps ensure that health and social care systems are not overwhelmed by number of
Alzheimer's cases.
3. Allows for relief on the federal budget as there is a lot of spending on Alzheimer's disease
patients.
 Example 2:

Sleep-Tracking Technology
- About 70 million Americans currently suffer from sleeping problems. This lack of
sleep is associated with mental illnesses, poor quality of life, and other health issues.
- A specific example of sleep-tracking technology includes The Oura Ring, which is
able to track all stages of sleep and activity to provide daily feedback and practical
steps that are personalized and inspire healthy lifestyles.
- This health measurement technology helps empower people by understanding their
health and how they can improve it.
- This technology was launched out of Finland by founders Kari Kivela, Markku
Koskela and Petteri Lahtela, and has now reached the U.S. with increasing sales.
 Technical Details
-This ring is powered by infrared LEDs, NTC temperature sensors, an accelerometer
and a gyroscope all wrapped around a finger (World Economic Forum).

-There were various research trials conducted, an example being comparing the Oura ring
to polysomnography (which is another word for sleep study). Methods of this included
fifty-three adolescentes who wore an Oura ring and Actiwatch 2, which were measured by
the polysomnography overnight. Measurements were made over multiple nights and
across three levels of sleep opportunity (Chee).
 Outcomes
The outcomes of the experiment explained in the previous slide showed that the
Oura ring was an adequate device for measuring sleep quality (Chee).

This technology has been increasing in popularity. It’s next steps include
introducing the Oura Ring Gen3 which is set to come out in late 2021. With this
comes even more improved technology and features such as menstrual cycle
predictions, wellness content, and upgraded temperature sensors to discover if you
are getting sick.
 Value
This ring allows for more than a conventional sleep tracker, as it provides highly accurate
heart-rate monitoring information of your sleep cycles. Especially with the technology
being improved, it has the ability to address many of one’s health concerns.
Societal Impacts from 3 Perspectives:
1. Empowers society to care more about one’s health and gives insight on what they
can do to improve it.
2. Can help improve the economy.
3. Allows for a different options of health care system which focuses instead on
insight and understanding one’s well-being.
 Sources
Chee, Nicholas & Ghorbani, Shohreh & Golkashani, Hosein & Leong, Ruth & Ong, Ju Lynn & Chee, Michael. (2021). Multi-
Night Validation of a Sleep Tracking Ring in Adolescents Compared with a Research Actigraph and Polysomnography.
Nature and Science of Sleep. Volume 13. 177-190. 10.2147/NSS.S286070.

“New Scanning Technology Could Help Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease Using Light.” VAntage Point, 9 Aug. 2021,
https://blogs.va.gov/VAntage/92688/new-scanning-technology-could-help-diagnose-alzheimers-disease-using-light/..

“Oura Ring.” World Economic Forum, https://www.weforum.org/organizations/oura-ring#:~:text=Oura%20is%20a%20health

%20measurement,people%20by%20understanding%20their%20health.&text=Powered%20by%20infrared%20LEDs
%2C%20NTC,Oura%20reaches%20deep%20physiological%20insights.

VAresearch. “New Scanning Technology Could Help Diagnose Alzheimer's Disease Using Light.” EurekAlert!,
https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/924642.