Americans suffer from memory loss for a variety of reasons. The most serious memory losses are caused by head trauma and Alzheimer’s. Alzheimer’s affects more than 6 million Americans. Head trauma is even more common, affecting over 23 million adults in the United States. Additionally, it is believed that 9.5 percent of all dementia cases may be attributed to a prior head injury.
Treating these disorders was problematic in the past because there was no easy way to see what was going on inside the head without cutting it open in risky procedures. Nowadays, advancements in medical technology powered by semiconductors have paved the way for treating memory loss effectively.
Advancements in Semiconductor Technology
Semiconductors continue to improve, year after year, as the latest chips are retrofitted into existing manufacturing equipment to produce denser computer chips with greater processing power. Some of the trends that are helping to care for memory loss patients are highlighted below:
1- Imaging
X-ray machines are now safer than ever because of the sensitive calibrations that deliver the lowest level of radiation possible during scans, 80 percent less than traditional methods used in the past. Computer Tomography (CT Scans) and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) machines can build a complete mapping of the patient’s brain to pinpoint damage.
2- Miniaturization, Precision Sensors, and Wireless Capabilities
The miniaturization of devices now allows patients to be monitored with implants and wearable sensors to provide a complete data profile necessary for advanced diagnostics. Wireless technology allows doctors to remotely collect data as they go about their daily lives without chaining a patient down with wires and cables.
Using sensors and implants, doctors can monitor a patient’s brain waves and gain a deeper understanding of how patients are affected by Alzheimer’s and head trauma. Advancements in semiconductors have also increased the sensitivity of the sensors used, allowing them to detect even minute changes in the brain.
3- Scientific Research
All of these tools are helping to unlock the mysteries of how the brain works and how Alzheimer’s destroys brain tissue. The research has reached many milestones with the development of new drugs to treat the disorder and new helmets for athletes to prevent the head trauma that can lead to Alzheimer’s.
Other studies of athletes who donated their brains found that over 90 percent of former NFL players show some level of Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE). CTE is another lesser-known disease that causes memory loss and other mental disorders.
Semiconductors are improving our quality of life every day and helping us to overcome the plague of memory loss affecting our country. As semiconductors improve, the quality of life and medical treatments available will progress simultaneously. Investing in semiconductors and supporting scientific research guarantee a brighter future for the health of all Americans.
Within multiple industries, but especially in the healthcare industry, semiconductors are leading to important advances. Advancements in technology developed for one field of medical science are often adaptable to other fields. Therefore, we will always find multiple long-term benefits when we invest in semiconductors and medical research.