Neuralink is a piece of neurotechnology, specifically an implantable brain-computer interface in the form of a chip that would be surgically implanted into the brain of a patient founded by Elon Musk in 2016. This technology aims to allow humans to communicate with computers. Human trials are currently ongoing with the first patient having received an implanted chip. As of August 2024, a second patient has successfully received the implant 12 . The patient has been using computer-aided design (CAD) to design 3D objects, which they then 3D-print, suggesting the implant is working as intended, allowing patients to control devices as they wish. By next year, Neuralink aims to have 11 patients implanted, and by 2030, the aim is to have 22,000 patients receive implants 6 . The goal of Neuralink is to enable patients with mobility problems and degenerative memory issues to regain their mobility and ability to retain information. This will be achieved by having the chip read the electrical impulses fired by the neurons, which will in turn create a reaction, such as controlling prosthetics, devices, or software. Elon Musk believes it will revolutionise the treatment of Dementia, and possibly cure it; however, there are ethical considerations and risks involved with the surgery itself, as it is an invasive process.
There are many forms of dementia, with Alzheimer’s disease thought to be the most common form. Many of the diseases that fall under the umbrella of dementia are caused by an abnormal build-up of proteins in the brain 10 . Different types of dementia can also be caused by damage to different areas of the brain. For example, Alzheimer’s disease is thought to be caused by high levels of the protein beta-amyloid, which is made by the breakdown of the larger protein amyloid precursor, both inside and outside brain cells, hindering their ability to communicate 13 . It is the brain cells in the hippocampus that are responsible for learning and memory that are often the first to be damaged 2 . Though there are treatments for the different types of dementia, due to it being caused by many diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, frontotemporal dementia, dementia with Lewy Bodies etc, there is no definitive cure 3 .
Musk’s BCI, named ‘the Link’, chip uses thin, flexible threads that contain 1,024 electrodes 5 . These electrodes are what record the neural activity of the neurons and nerve cells that send electrical signals across the body to control bodily functions. It is described as “cosmetically invisible” 12 . The chip itself is around the size of a coin and works by recording the electrical signals and then decoding them. After that, the decoded signals are transmitted back to the brain using electrical stimulation 4 . In essence, the chips are controlled by the users’ thoughts. The chip is surgically implanted into the cerebral cortex, which is the area of the brain responsible for memory, learning, and emotion. BCIs could possibly enhance cognitive functions that are damaged due to dementia; however, current clinical trials with “the Link” have been focused on patients with motor neurone diseases. As human trials are only beginning, not much information has been released, and there has yet to be any news from Neuralink on the use of the BCI in patients with degenerative cognitive diseases. As a result, it is only speculation that Musk’s BCI could help treat dementia 14 .
Figure 1 : A diagram of the wireless Link implant, displaying the four layers, including the neural threads that are inserted into the motor cortex 11 .
According to Elon Musk on the 29 th of January 2024, a BCI has been implanted in a patient for the first time 15 . The patient suffers from severe paralysis, and it is hoped he will be able to control devices, such as computers and tablets, with his thoughts alone. Unfortunately, there is a lack of information regarding the research being conducted, as well as the trial itself 7 . This has caused some researchers to be concerned due to the communication of scientific news being relayed through social media instead of traditional peer-reviewed publications. Furthermore, Neuralink’s lack of transparency is a violation of ethical guidelines assigned to all biomedical research 8 . There has, however, been reported success with a BSI (brain-spine implant) in a patient who suffered an incomplete cervical spinal cord injury due to a biking accident ten years prior. The patient, a 38-year-old male, took part in Stimulation Movement Overground (STIMO) – BSI clinical trial 9 . The trial included a five-month neurorehabilitation programme, where the patient would receive epidural electrical stimulation to their spinal cord. The BSI works by restoring communication between the brain and the spinal cord by building a digital bridge between them. Now, the patient can walk naturally with the aid of the BSI. Furthermore, the patient can walk assisted with crutches while the BSI is switched off, and the BSI has remained stable for over one year 9 .
An online cross-sectional survey, involving 326 adults between the ages of 20 and 40 was completed in 2021, within five countries in the Middle East and North Africa. Many of the participants believe that brain chip implants would help in processing data, treating disabilities such as epilepsy, improve cognitive function mimic lost brain functions, or even an alternative method to drug delivery systems 1 . It was revealed 54.6% of the study participants stated they have heard about the ‘Brain Chip Implants’, and 6.1% stated they knew of the importance of the implants. Moreover, whilst 6.1% had confirmed they would use it, only 2.5% of the participants thought brain implants would be safe. Concerns were shown about the possible loss of autonomy and privacy due to the invasive nature of brain chip implants as a means of gathering data 1 . Society still has not caught up with the recent surge of technological development, and so many still struggle to comprehend what BCIs are and what they’re used for. In terms of legality, it would take time for the Link to be commercially available in most countries due to concerns of privacy and data breaches. In addition to this, ethically speaking, it should be discussed whether the virtually invasive nature of the Link feeding data back to Neuralink warrants the physically invasive nature of the surgery to implant the device in the first place. Overall, the use of brain implants raises the issue of numerous social, legal, and ethical questions.
References
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