A drug-free device treats depression

Could light therapy be the answer for patients with treatment-resistant disorders?

Spotted: Depression, or major depressive disorder, is one of the most common mental illnesses, with around seven per cent of all EU citizens suffering from the condition. Talking therapy and medication can be extremely effective treatments for depression, but that’s not the case for everyone. To try and help those with treatment-resistant depression, Syntropic Medical has developed an alternative solution.

Spun out of the Institute of Science and Technology Austria (ISTA), the Vienna-based startup has created a light-based brain stimulation device based on research conducted by ISTA’s Siegert Group. The technology is built on the premise that light therapy can be used to enhance the brain’s neuroplasticity, meaning it can help to reorganise and create new neural pathways, hopefully reducing the symptoms of psychiatric disorders like depression and boosting cognitive function.

Because they may not be targeting the root cause, some sufferers of depression can find that pharmaceuticals are ineffective. By contrast, Syntropic’s device uses flickering lights to encourage the brain’s immune cells to alter structures and connections in the brain that are linked to mental disorders and unhealthy thought patterns. This drug-free and non-invasive approach should help the brain remodel itself, without the potential side effects that can often accompany antidepressant medication.

In July, Syntropic announced that it had received €1.1 million in funding from the Austrian Research Promotion Agency (FFG), following on from investment made by Xista Science Ventures and AWS (the promotional bank of the Austrian Government in April).

Written By: Matilda Cox