Brain-training headband has a game you control with your mind

There's something very sci-fi about The Muse S Athena, a headband that tracks brain activity and blood flow, ready to help train your mental strength. It uses several sensors to provide insight into how your brain is performing, and the latest challenge the company has added to its app is a game you have to use brain power to control.
The game features an owl in flight, and its movement is controlled by mental strain, which sounds like your thoughts to us, rather than fingers on your phone's screen. The harder you think, the more the owl soars, and when you slow down your thoughts, the owl descends. Muse says the task helps build cognitive endurance, and because you see real-time information it can lead to being able to strengthen your concentration and focus, as well as switching between them and a relaxed state.
See what we mean about sci-fi? It's like a training ground for budding Scanners. Here's how it works. The Muse S Athena uses an electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor to track brainwave activity and measure the switch between focus and relaxation, plus a Function Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS) sensor to observe oxygen levels in the frontal cortex, which Muse says shows how the brain is 'fueled.' AI-driven algorithms interpret brain activity and measure its strength, and the effort you're putting in.
Why would you want to wear the headband and track your brain's activity? Understanding how much energy your brain is using (via the fNIRS sensor) and building the ability to stay focused or shift between it and a relaxed state (measured by the EEG) increases efficiency, so you can stay focused for longer, with less effort according to Muse. Additionally, it can also help you quickly relax. Improving brain health may have other benefits in the future, and slow the onset of syndromes like dementia.
Jean-Michel Fournier, CEO of Interaxon which produces the Muse S Athena, said:
'True health isn't just physical, it starts with your brain. Athena is designed to tackle the growing challenge of cognitive decline while marking Muse's evolution from meditation to full-spectrum brain health. Just as physical fitness requires strength, endurance, and skill, mental fitness demands the same targeted training. Athena provides the tools to enhance cognitive performance, build resilience, and support lifelong brain health.'
In addition to controlling the owl's flight with your brain, there are other tools designed to train brain activity, where sound is used to ensure your mind stays focused, and the headband will alert you if it wanders. The Muse S Athena can be worn to track sleep, and has a feature where it can help ensure you fall back asleep if you're woken up unexpectedly. It also recently teamed up with Alphabeats to use music to help build mental strength with the headband.
The Muse S Athena has a different design to previous Muse headband models like the Muse 2. It's made of soft stretchy fabric so it's more suited to wearing overnight, and has a more lifestyle-like look to it, unlike the Muse 2 which belonged in a lab. The battery is expected to last for around 10 hours on a single charge, and the accompanying app is compatible with both Android and iOS. Many features are available for free, but to unlock them all you'll need to subscribe which costs $13 per month. This is on top of the hefty $475 price of the Muse S Athena headband, which is available to purchase from Muse now.

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New York Post

a day ago

• New York Post

3 ‘next-level brain hacking' methods biohackers love — a high-tech tool gives you ‘40 years of mediation benefits' in just days

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Yahoo

a day ago

• Yahoo

argenx Announces European Commission Approval of VYVGART Subcutaneous Injection for Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy

VYVGART® SC, first-and-only IgG Fc-antibody fragment which specifically targets the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn), now approved for use in Europe for CIDP Approval based on ADHERE clinical trial, the largest study of CIDP patients to date First novel mechanism of action for CIDP treatment in more than 30 years June 20, 2025, 7:00 PM CET Amsterdam, the Netherlands – argenx SE (Euronext & Nasdaq: ARGX), a global immunology company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune diseases, today announced that the European Commission (EC) approved VYVGART® (efgartigimod alfa) 1000mg for subcutaneous (SC) injection as a monotherapy for the treatment of adult patients with progressive or relapsing active chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) after prior treatment with corticosteroids or immunoglobulins. VYVGART for SC injection is available as a vial or prefilled syringe and can be administered by a patient, caregiver, or healthcare professional. Treatment is initiated with a weekly dose regimen and may be adjusted to every other week based on clinical evaluation. "The EC's decision has been met with hope and enthusiasm by the European Patient Organisation for Dysimmune and Inflammatory Neuropathies (EPODIN). We see the introduction of a new targeted therapy for CIDP as a major step forward for the patient community," said Jean-Philippe Plançon, President of EPODIN. CIDP is a rare, debilitating, often progressive, immune-mediated neuromuscular disorder of the peripheral nervous system. Patients experience a range of disabling mobility and sensory issues, including trouble standing from a seated position, pain and fatigue, and frequent tripping or falling. People living with CIDP can also become wheelchair bound and unable to work as the disease progresses. Currently, 85% of patients require ongoing treatment and nearly 88% of treated patients experience residual impairment and disability. 'CIDP can severely affect quality of life by causing weakness, loss of balance and mobility, numbness and pain in a patient's arms and legs. For far too long, physicians have had limited options for helping to improve patient outcomes,' said Dr. Luis Querol, M.D., Ph.D., ADHERE Investigator, Hospital de la Santa Creu i Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain. 'The approval of VYVGART SC for the treatment of CIDP marks a turning point in clinical practice, as physicians now have access to a new, effective treatment option that, for the first time, precisely targets a key mechanism of disease and provides meaningful functional improvements to patients.' The EC approval follows a positive recommendation from the Committee for Medicinal Products for Human Use (CHMP) and is based on positive results from the ADHERE clinical trial, the largest study of CIDP patients to date. In the study, 66.5% (214/322) of patients treated with VYVGART SC demonstrated evidence of clinical improvement, including in mobility, function and strength. Clinical benefit was seen across all patient subtypes, regardless of prior treatment. ADHERE met its primary endpoint (p<0.0001) demonstrating a 61% reduction (HR: 0.39 95% CI: 0.25; 0.61) in the risk of relapse versus placebo. 99% of trial participants elected to participate in the ADHERE open-label extension. The safety results were consistent with the known safety profile of VYVGART SC in previous clinical studies. 'VYVGART SC is the first therapy with a novel mechanism of action to be approved for this community in more than 30 years,' said Luc Truyen, M.D., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer of argenx. 'With VYVGART SC, CIDP patients and physicians across Europe will soon have access to an effective novel therapy with a favorable safety profile that has a precise mechanism of action and a convenient self-injection option. This approval further affirms the potential of efgartigimod in IgG-mediated autoimmune diseases.' The EC approval will apply to all 27 European Union Member States, and also to Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway. argenx is working closely with local regulatory authorities across the region to ensure that patients who may benefit from VYVGART SC are able to access the novel treatment as soon as possible. This regulatory approval is the second for VYVGART SC in Europe, which first received approval as an add-on to standard therapy for the treatment of adult patients with generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) who are anti-acetylcholine receptor (AChR) antibody positive. About ADHERE The ADHERE trial was a multi-center, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating efgartigimod alfa SC for the treatment of CIDP. ADHERE enrolled 322 adult patients with CIDP, 130 of whom were based in Europe. The trial consisted of an open-label Stage A followed by a randomized, placebo-controlled Stage B. In order to be eligible for the trial, the diagnosis of CIDP was confirmed by an independent panel of experts. Patients entered a run-in stage, where any ongoing CIDP treatment was stopped and, in order to be eligible for Stage A, had to demonstrate active disease with clinically meaningful worsening on at least one CIDP clinical assessment tool, including INCAT, I-RODS, or mean grip strength. Treatment-naïve patients were able to skip the run-in period with proof of recent worsening. To advance to Stage B, patients needed to demonstrate evidence of clinical improvement (ECI) with efgartigimod alfa SC. ECI was achieved through improvement of the INCAT score, or improvement on I- RODS or mean grip strength if those scales had demonstrated worsening during the run-in period. In Stage B, patients were randomized to either efgartigimod alfa SC or placebo for up to 48 weeks. The primary endpoint was measured once 88 total relapses or events were achieved in Stage B and was based on the hazard ratio for the time to first adjusted INCAT deterioration (i.e. relapse). After Stage B, all patients had the option to roll-over to an open-label extension study to receive efgartigimod alfa SC. About Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy (CIDP)CIDP is a rare and serious autoimmune disease of the peripheral nervous system. There is increasing evidence that IgG antibodies play a key role in the damage to the peripheral nerves. People with CIDP experience fatigue, muscle weakness and a loss of feeling in their arms and legs that can worsen over time or may come and go. These symptoms can significantly impair a person's ability to function in their daily lives. Without treatment, one-third of people living with CIDP will need a wheelchair. About Efgartigimod SCEfgartigimod SC (efgartigimod alfa) is a human IgG1 antibody fragment designed to reduce pathogenic immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies by binding to the neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) and blocking the IgG recycling process. Efgartigimod SC is the first-approved FcRn blocker globally and is marketed as VYVGART® Hytrulo in the United States and China for the treatment of generalized myasthenia gravis (gMG) and CIDP; as VYVDURA in Japan for gMG and CIDP; and as VYVGART for gMG and CIDP in other regions globally. Efgartigimod SC is currently being evaluated in more than 15 severe autoimmune diseases where pathogenic IgGs are believed to be mediators of disease. About argenxargenx is a global immunology company committed to improving the lives of people suffering from severe autoimmune diseases. Partnering with leading academic researchers through its Immunology Innovation Program (IIP), argenx aims to translate immunology breakthroughs into a world-class portfolio of novel antibody-based medicines. argenx developed and is commercialising the first approved neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn) blocker and is evaluating its broad potential in multiple serious autoimmune diseases while advancing several earlier stage experimental medicines within its therapeutic franchises. For more information, visit and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. Contacts Media:Kate Dion kdion@ Investors: Alexandra Royaroy@ Forward-Looking Statements The contents of this announcement include statements that are, or may be deemed to be, 'forward-looking statements.' These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms 'aim,' 'is,' 'can,' 'may,' 'will,' and 'believe' and include statements argenx makes concerning argenx's aim to translate immunology breakthroughs into a world-class portfolio of novel antibody-based medicines; its belief that the approval of VYVGART SC for the treatment of CIDP may bring meaningful functional improvements to patients; the timing of access to an effective novel therapy for CIDP patients and physicians across Europe; and the potential of efgartigimod in IgG-mediated autoimmune diseases. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. argenx's actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements as a result of various important factors, including but not limited to, the results of argenx's clinical trials; expectations regarding the inherent uncertainties associated with the development of novel drug therapies; preclinical and clinical trial and product development activities and regulatory approval requirements; the acceptance of its products and product candidates by its patients as safe, effective and cost-effective; the impact of governmental laws and regulations, including tariffs, export controls, sanctions and other regulations on its business; its reliance on third-party suppliers, service providers and manufacturers; inflation and deflation and the corresponding fluctuations in interest rates; and regional instability and conflicts. A further list and description of these risks, uncertainties and other risks can be found in argenx's U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings and reports, including in argenx's most recent annual report on Form 20-F filed with the SEC as well as subsequent filings and reports filed by argenx with the SEC. Given these uncertainties, the reader is advised not to place any undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements speak only as of the date of publication of this document. argenx undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise the information in this press release, including any forward-looking statements, except as may be required by in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data

The Hill

2 days ago

• The Hill

ChatGPT use linked to cognitive decline: MIT research

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