Long-term SPG stimulation therapy for prevention of vascular dementia
First Claim
1. A method comprising:
- identifying that a subject is at particular future risk of suffering from vascular dementia (VaD) even though the subject displays no symptoms of VaD at the time of the identifying; and
responding to the identifying by reducing a risk of development of the VaD by;
applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject at least intermittently during a period having a duration of at least four weeks, the site selected from the group consisting of;
a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve, andconfiguring the stimulation applied to the site to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of;
an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method is provided that includes identifying that a subject is at risk of suffering from vascular dementia (VaD). Responsively to the identifying, a risk of development of the VaD is reduced by applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and configuring the stimulation to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances. Other embodiments are also described.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A method comprising:
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identifying that a subject is at particular future risk of suffering from vascular dementia (VaD) even though the subject displays no symptoms of VaD at the time of the identifying; and responding to the identifying by reducing a risk of development of the VaD by; applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject at least intermittently during a period having a duration of at least four weeks, the site selected from the group consisting of;
a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve, andconfiguring the stimulation applied to the site to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of;
an increase in cerebral blood flow (CBF) of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification