Wearable Neurotech: A Quiet Revolution in Mental Health
The world of brain-stimulatingmedtech is abuzz with excitement, but it’s not the invasive,headline-grabbing brain implants that are capturing the most attention. Instead, a quiet revolution is brewing in the realm of wearable neurotech, offering a less invasiveand potentially more accessible path to treating mental health conditions.
While Elon Musk’s Neuralink has garnered significant funding for its ambitious brain-computer interface, thereality is that invasive brain surgery remains a high-risk, costly, and time-consuming endeavor. This is where non-invasive neurotech shines. By harnessing the power of external stimulation, wearable devices offer a potentially safer and more cost-effective alternativefor addressing a range of neurological conditions.
The opportunity is massive, asserts Kerry Baldwin, co-founder of IQ Capital, a deep-tech investor that has backed Neurovalens, a Belfast-based neurotech startup. Neurovalens,founded in 2013, has raised over $30 million to develop a portfolio of wearable brain-stimulating technologies targeting mental health and metabolic conditions. The company’s focus on transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TES), a non-invasive method that delivers electrical impulses to the brain through the skin, exemplifies the potential ofthis emerging field.
The appeal of wearable neurotech extends beyond its relative safety and cost-effectiveness. Its potential applications are vast, encompassing a wide range of mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, and even metabolic disorders. Neurovalens, for instance, is exploring the use of TES to stimulate the vestibular nerve, located behind the ear, as a treatment for anxiety and other conditions.
This burgeoning market has attracted significant investment, with Neurovalens’ recent Series A funding round exceeding $20 million. While these figures pale in comparison to the billions invested in pharmaceutical development, they highlight the growing confidence in the potential of wearable neurotech.
The future of wearable neurotech is bright. As research progresses and clinical trials yield positive results, these devices have the potential to revolutionize mental healthcare, offering a more accessible and personalized approach to treatment. The quiet revolution is gaining momentum, and the world is starting to take notice.
References:
*Neuralink
* Neurovalens
* Neurovalens Anxiety FDA
* Billions for Pharmaceutical Development
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