Methods For Treating Brain Malfunctions

Abstract

Methods of treating a brain malfunction include obtaining a subject diagnosed with a brain malfunction and reducing EEG frequency of brainwaves in the subject by applying at least one EEG-slowing stimulus to the subject, whereby production of β-amyloid protein in the brain of the subject is reduced and progression of the brain malfunction is halted or slowed.

1 .- 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A device for treating brain malfunction in a patient by inducing a therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment in said patient, comprising:
 at least one entertainment stimulation device effective to induce brainwave entrainment in said patient,   an entrainment signal generator configured to produce a therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal;   at least one biofeedback device configured to measure patient biofeedback response to said entrainment aural and photo entrainment signals; and   a controller coupled with said biofeedback device and said entrainment signal generator, said controller being configured to receive biofeedback signals from said patient to determine a therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal, and send said therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal to said aural stimulation device and said photo stimulation device.   
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one biofeedback device is selected from the group consisting of: an EEG amplifier, a device to measure muscle tone, a device to measure skin conductance, a device to measure heart rate, and a device to measure pain perception. 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said at least one biofeedback device is an EEG amplifier coupled to said patient configured to amplify EEG signals received from said patient. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said at least one entrainment stimulation device is selected from the group consisting of: visual stimulators, auditory stimulators, tactile stimulators, kinesthetic stimulators, somatic electrical stimulators, transcranial electrical simulators, transcranial magnetic stimulators, alone or in any combination. 
     
     
         25 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein said entrainment stimulation device is a photostimulation device configured to send a visible entrainment signal to said patient. 
     
     
         26 . The device of  claim 24 , wherein said entrainment stimulation device is an aural stimulation device configured to send audible entrainment signal to said patient. 
     
     
         27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein said aural stimulation device produces binaural beats. 
     
     
         28 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal is effective to substantially suppress or substantially eliminate β and γ EEG frequencies of said subject compared to the β and γ EEG frequencies of said subject without said exposure. 
     
     
         29 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal is effective to substantially suppress or substantially eliminate δ and θ EEG frequencies of said subject compared to the δ and θ EEG frequencies of said subject without said exposure. 
     
     
         30 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal is effective to substantially suppress or substantially eliminate α EEG frequencies. 
     
     
         31 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said entrainment stimulation device is a photostimulation device configured to send a visible entrainment signal to said patient. 
     
     
         32 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein said entrainment stimulation device is an aural stimulation device configured to send audible entrainment signal to said patient. 
     
     
         33 . The device of  claim 22 , wherein said aural stimulation device produces binaural beats. 
     
     
         34 . A device for treating brain malfunction in a patient by inducing a therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment in said patient, comprising:
 at least one entrainment stimulation device effective to induce brainwave entrainment in said patient,   an entrainment signal generator configured to drive an aural stimulation device and a photo stimulation device to produce a therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal;   a EEG amplifier, said EEG amplifier being configured to measure patient biofeedback response to said entrainment aural and photo entrainment signals; and   a controller coupled with said EEG amplifier and said entrainment signal generator, said controller being configured to receive amplified EEG signals from said patient amplified by said EEG amplifier, process said amplified EEG signals to determine a therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal, and send said therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal to said aural stimulation device and said photo stimulation device.   
     
     
         35 . The device of  claim 34 , wherein said aural stimulation device produces binaural beats. 
     
     
         36 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein said therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal is effective to substantially suppress or substantially eliminate β and γ EEG frequencies of said subject compared to the β and γ EEG frequencies of said subject without said exposure. 
     
     
         37 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein said therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal is effective to substantially suppress or substantially eliminate δ and θ EEG frequencies of said subject compared to the δ and θ EEG frequencies of said subject without said exposure. 
     
     
         38 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein said therapeutically effective brainwave entrainment signal is effective to substantially suppress or substantially eliminate α EEG frequencies.