My current level of physical acuity can be attributed to participating in group fitness classes at the gym. Knowledgeable instructors, peer accountability and social decorum consistently hold me to a reasonable level of motivation and subsequent progress. My struggle with energy is real, but I occasionally hit a sweet-spot stride where stretching, endorphins and knee compliance align to reveal a hint of the divine:

Mama always said, use it or lose it.
Look, Ma! I’m a gazelle! I’m boundless! I’m elastic!

After my workout is finished, I shortly revert back to my usual habits of lumbering about like a heap of day-old bread pudding (congealed whisky sauce and all), glaring at the agile kids who cross my path (translation - anyone under the age of 40), and dreaming of my next meal at Umami Burger. Nevertheless, I remain limitless in the scope of my mind’s eye for quite some time to follow.

While we’re on the subject of mind eyes, where does one turn when their mental acuity begins to wane? What does one do when word recall is non existent, a once familiar route to the grocery store becomes a full-fledged, directional battle, and tangled heaps of written words and letters are swept away by the comprehension police, leaving only a sense of frustration behind? I want to find a gym where I can use technology to boost my brain functionality when I’m feeling cognitively bankrupt.

I wanna be brilliant. I wanna get lit. Can we shed some light on the situation? Apparently, yes.

Vielight is a Toronto-based company that manufactures a line of personal devices designed to enhance memory, reverse the effects of brain injury, and mitigate cognitive decline.

The Neuro Gamma by Vielight - photo courtesy of Vielight.com

TECHNOLOGY AND DELIVERY SYSTEM - Vielight devices utilize photobiomodulation light technology, as featured in the 2018 study provided in the following link: Alzheimer's Study Using 40 Hz Intranasal Therapy. The hand-held, wearable units deliver light to the brain both transcranially (through a headset clustered with LED diodes) and intranasally (through a nose clip). Each unit features the frequency recommended for therapeutic optimization in the treatment of specific brain conditions and other health issues:

NEURO ALPHA - The Neuro Alpha delivers light at 10Hz, which, according to the study, is the frequency best suited for the therapeutic treatment of sustained brain injuries.

NEURO GAMMA - The Neuro Gamma delivers light at 40Hz which, according to the study, is the frequency best suited for the therapeutic treatment of Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

NEURO ALPHA-GAMMA - The Neuro Alpha-Gamma bundles the devices mentioned above to enable the varying of treatment at frequencies of both 10 and 40Hz.

VIELIGHT X - The Vielight X is currently in development and best suited for the therapeutic treatment of Parkinson’s disease. Specifics are pending.

Vielight recently conducted a 228 participant, double-blind randomized placebo-controlled clinical trial to investigate the effects of the Neuro Gamma device on the cognitive functioning of patients with Alzheimer’s disease.

I admire Vielight’s commitment to those living with brain injuries and dementia. I also have a selfish streak. The technology is promising but the target market is underdeveloped; who better to test it out than solo agers, caregivers and other burned-out achievers in need of a cognitive boost, especially when used in tandem with other self care options? Aren’t business developers always looking for a bundle?

I want to find a gym where I can use technology to boost my brain functionality when I’m feeling cognitively bankrupt. What’s a spinster to do while she’s waiting for photobiomodulation devices to gain momentum and improve? Finding a comfortable setting, getting regularly “lit” and gauging her progress over time might be a nice place to start.

Anyone else?