The chip of the company Neuralink (Neuralink)/Neuralink
This week, billionaire
Elon Musk
announced the first implantation of the chip developed by his startup company Neuralink, in amputees, which he says will help them control the phone, computer and any device - using only thought.
The brain chip, which the company calls "telepathy", was implanted on Sunday this week for the first time in a person, who, according to Musk, is "recovering from the procedure satisfactorily".
Musk wrote in his X account: "He is recovering well. The initial results show promising neuronal activity."
In the next steps, Neuralink intends to implant a chip that should also affect the mechanisms of hunger and satiety and lead to weight loss.
But the authorities in the United States warn against Musk's new weight loss method.
According to them, there is no reason to use technology that requires drilling into the brain and implanting a chip in order to treat obesity, when there are now simpler, less dangerous solutions.
Musk's technology is based on implanting a chip in the brain designed to wire the nervous system.
"This system can address many problems such as severe depression, morbid obesity, sleep disorders and memory recovery in older people," Musk said in a TED talk last April.
Will the next implanted chip make people eat less?
Elan Musk/GettyImages, Antonio Masiello/
Neuralink is developing a system that will allow the nervous system to be rewired.
The method involves implanting chips in the brain that are connected to a computer (BCI).
This technology, as mentioned, was originally developed for people suffering from paralysis in order to assist them in daily activities, where the goal is to make them walk as well.
Musk's company wants to extend the solution to those suffering from morbid obesity as well.
They believe that by implanting the chip, they will be able to wire the part of the brain that is responsible for the mechanisms of satiety and hunger, thus being able to neutralize our urge to eat more than necessary.
But this technology is not without problems: in order to implant the Neuralink chip, a complex medical procedure is needed.
In fact, the patient has to undergo surgery during which a hole is actually drilled in his skull and the device is implanted.
"This implantation could pose a danger and cause contamination or rejection of the chip," said the US Government Accountability Office.
In addition, federal authorities opened an investigation last year after employees complained that the initial experiments in Neuralink's laboratories were done too quickly and in a way that caused damage Unnecessary for animals that were part of the research.
Despite this, last September the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the company to recruit humans for research.
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One way or another, there are other options for treating obesity that are considered safer than implanting brain chips, such as a balanced and healthy diet, burning calories through fitness training of varying intensity or using GLP-1 drugs, which have become popular all over the world and in Israel in recent years.
These drugs were originally developed to treat diabetes, but then it turned out that they also have the ability to help with weight loss.
In fact, these treatments succeed in slowing down the movement of food from the stomach to the small intestine and also act on the mechanism in the brain that is responsible for the feeling of satiety and hunger.
As a result, these drugs cause a significant reduction in food consumption and, of course, weight loss.
Some treatments have been proven to lead to a reduction of more than a quarter of body weight.
However, it is important to emphasize that these are not magic drugs and their use is intended for people suffering from obesity and should be done under medical supervision.
In addition, quite a few cases related to the side effects of these drugs have recently been published.
Ironically, Musk himself uses the drug "Vygobi" for weight loss.
One of his followers on X (formerly Twitter) commented a few months ago on a photo that the billionaire uploaded to the network and wrote: "You look amazing, fit, shapely and healthy. Do you lift weights? Eat healthy?", Musk replied: "I fast. And also use Vigobi."
"Musk is considered a ground-breaking entrepreneur and the founder of huge companies that led to technological developments that changed the world,"
Dr. Raz HaGoel
, an expert physician and the director of the obesity treatment medical center, tells Walla Health. "The treatment of obesity has also undergone a revolution thanks to the advancement of science and technology.
At the same time, one should exercise caution and carefully examine new treatment methods in the field of medicine in general, and obesity in particular.
"It is worth noting that there are currently effective conventional measures approved by the world's health authorities, which have proven a significant reduction in weight over time and do not require surgery or the insertion of chips into the brain. It is important to remember that there are no magic solutions for weight loss, and also the use of drugs to treat obesity requires the consultation and support of a doctor and a large team Professional while changing lifestyles, in order to maintain results over time."
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