Developers: | Aalto University |
Date of the premiere of the system: | Nov 2022 |
Branches: | Pharmaceuticals, Medicine, Healthcare |
2022: Alcohol Control Device Announcement
On November 4, 2022, it became known that Aalto University has developed a device that helps maintain alcoholic sobriety in combination with other treatments such as psychosocial therapy and pharmaceuticals.
The new device is designed to suppress alcohol cravings through a pleasant touch of the skin that activates nerve pathways called C-tactiles. Through them, the stimulus reaches areas of the brain that are closely related to craving for alcohol and other addictions.
{{quote 'The parasympathetic nervous system is activated with gentle, pleasant touches, releasing, among other things, dopamine and oxytocin. Touch also increases resistance to stress, and stress is one of the main factors that provoke alcoholism. The idea is not to replace intimacy with other people, but to complement it by mechanically activating certain neural pathways, explains Juliana Harkki, medical leader of the project. }} Шаблон:Quote 'The device we are developing will be the first technology-based medical solution, says Jukka Planman, project commercialization manager.
Alcoholism brings enormous human suffering and economic costs. According to, to data WHO about 3 million people die from alcohol every year. Globally, about three-quarters of people with alcohol problems are not receiving treatment, partly because of public condemnation as well as long waiting lists. However, alcohol monitoring apps and support such as behavioral therapy continue to spread around the world in an attempt to address the issue.
Juliana Harcky says the team is also exploring putting the device on its back. The researchers plan to make the back device available in pharmacies without a prescription. This will make it suitable for people who have already made the decision to become teetotalers on their own. The device, developed as part of the hentoTouch project, is designed to be worn imperceptibly under clothes.
{{quote 'We also study how often activation should be carried out and at what dosage. Perhaps the device will not need to be carried around, but can be used, for example, at home, "says Pauli Tuovinen, head of the team's technology department[1] }}