Humans could achieve ‘super-intelligence’ in as little as FIVE YEARS by implanting tiny computer chips into our brains, expert claims

• Researchers working to develop smart brain implants for non-medical reasons 
• These chips could serve as brain-computer interface to boost our intelligence
• Neuroscientist developing a chip of his own predicts they'll be here in 5 years

High-tech chips implanted in the brain could soon give humans an intelligence boost.

Researchers have been working to develop minimally invasive methods to hack the human brain and squeeze out more of its potential.

Recent technological advancements could make this possible within the next five years, Northwestern University neuroscientist Dr. Moran Cerf told CBS – but, he warns the move could also create new forms of social inequality.

High-tech chips implanted in the brain could soon give humans an intelligence boost. Researchers have been working to develop minimally invasive methods to hack the human brain and squeeze out more of its potential. Stock image

‘Make it so that it has an internet connection, and goes to Wikipedia, and when I think this particular thought, it gives me the answer,’ Cerf told CBS.

The neuroscientist and business professor is currently working to develop one such chip, with the goal of improving human intelligence by melding it with technology.

This idea has taken off in recent years, with initiatives such as Elon Musk-backed Neuralink working to develop brain-computer interfaces.

DARPA has also expressed continued interest in the field as it works to enhance soldiers’ cognitive abilities and grasp on technology.

‘Everyone is spending a lot of time right now trying to find ways to get things into the brain without drilling a hole in your skull,’ Cerf told CBS.Can you eat something that will actually get to your brain? Can you eat things in parts that will assemble inside your head.’

According to Cerf, we may be just a few years away from the solution. But, its use in everyday society could make for extreme intelligence gaps within a given population. 

Just this past summer, the Pentagon’s research arm made moves in a project that intends to bridge the gap between humans and machines.

Recent technological advancements could make smart brain chips possible within the next five years, Dr Moran Cerf (pictured) says

DARPA selected a number of teams in July to develop a neural interface as part of its new N3 program, with a goal of developing systems that would allow troops to send and receive information using their brainwaves, according to Nextgov.

This means troops could one day control drones, cyber defense systems, and other technology with their mind.

It might sound like science fiction, but the agency is looking to see this done in one of two ways: a non-invasive device outside of the body, or a non-surgical system that could be swallowed, injected, or delivered up the nose.

And in spring of 2017, the agency funded eight separate research efforts to determine if electrical stimulation can safely be used to 'enhance learning and accelerate training skills.'

The program, called the Targeted Neuroplasticity Training (TNT) program, aimed to use the body's peripheral nervous system to accelerate the learning process.

This would be done by activating a process known as 'synaptic plasticity' – a key process in the brain involved in learning – with electrical stimulation.

Ultimately, doing this could allow a person to quickly master complex skills that would normally take thousands of hours of practice.

HOW IS THE US MILITARY HOPING TO 'HACK' SOLDIERS BRAINS?

Darpa's four-year Targeted Neuroplasticity Training (TNT) program aims to use the body's peripheral nervous system to accelerate the learning process.

This would be done by activating a process known as 'synaptic plasticity' – a key process in the brain involved in learning – with electrical stimulation.

Some teams will be working with intelligence analysts and foreign language specialists to shape the platform around currently training practices.

Researchers will look into using the technique across a wide range of applications, including decision-making and spatial navigation, speech perception and threat recognition.

'Imagine you're struggling to learn something new, like multiplication tables or how to hit a golf ball,' said Dr Robert Rennaker, of the University of Texas at Dallas’ Texas Biomedical Device Center.

'When you get it right, when that light bulb comes on, this system is being activated.

'By stimulating the vagus nerve during the learning process, we're artificially releasing these chemicals to enhance those connections active during learning.' 

Medications Older Adults Should Avoid

































You might be on one of the drugs listed below. It may be fine for you to be taking that drug. If you are taking a medication listed here it would be prudent to discuss that medication with the healthcare provider who prescribed it for you. It is always in your best interest to have your medications reviewed as some may no longer be necessary or may not be doing what they were intended to do for your health. Keep a list of your medications in your wallet, along with dosage and how many times a day, so you can refer to that list if you need to remind someone what you are taking. Also, if you are being seen by more than one healthcare provider be sure that ALL know your medication list as well as herbals and vitamins that you are taking. Some medications and herbals do not work together….

29 Medications Older Adults Should Avoid




The risks of using certain prescription and OTC drugs change as you get older. Are you taking something you shouldn’t be?

Even if you’re as sharp and active as you were in your 20s, there’s no denying your body has changed over the years. And while some of those changes might be obvious, others are not as easily noticeable. One important example: how your body responds to medication.

As you age, your kidney function changes, so it takes longer for many drugs to leave your system. Meanwhile, your body is less able to hold on to water and your body fat percentage increases, says Donna Marie Fick, Ph.D., R.N., director of the Center of Geriatric Nursing Excellence at Penn State College of Nursing.

These shifts, among others, mean a drug that worked well for you when you were younger might no longer do the trick—or, worse, it could leave you vulnerable to serious side effects or adverse events.

Benzodiazepines, for example, are often prescribed for anxiety and related conditions, but can increase the risk for cognitive impairment, falls, and motor vehicle accidents—leading to fractures and other serious injuries. Despite these risks, six percent of men and more than 10 percent of women 65 to 80 years old use benzodiazepines, according to a study in JAMA Psychiatry.

In an effort to keep older adults and their doctors in the loop about these risks, the American Geriatric Society (AGS) maintains a list of drugs that might be dangerous in older patients. And you might very well be taking one or more of the drugs on this list.
Is Your Doctor Up to Speed?

If you’re thinking your doctor should already know which drugs are off-limits for seniors, don’t be so sure. Unless you’re seeing a geriatrician, your provider might not be an expert in treating older adults.

You should also know that the 2019 version of the AGS list—called the AGS Beers Criteria for Potentially Inappropriate Medication Use in Older Adults—just came out in late January 2019. The previous update was in 2015, so if your doctor is still relying on that version, their info could be outdated.

Another common issue: “You might have been put on a drug when you were 55 or 60, but now you’re 65 or 75 and still taking it,” says Fick, who was a panel co-chair for the 2019 update.

That could be problematic if a doctor hasn’t recently assessed all of the meds you’re taking. She recommends going over all your prescription and over-the-counter (OTC) drugs, as well as any dietary supplements you may be using, with a doctor at least every six months.

Fick adds that it’s a good idea to periodically ask your doctor if you still need to be taking everything that’s part of your current drug regimen, or if any of them can be stopped.



“There’s a big push now to do what’s called ‘deprescribing,’ because the sheer number of drugs you’re taking is the biggest risk factor for adverse events,” she says.

Whether you’re taking one pill or 10 (or more!), you and your doctor should consult the new AGS guide to help make sure it’s safe for you. The guide puts drugs into five categories:
Medications that are potentially inappropriate for most older adults
Medications that should typically be avoided in older adults with certain conditions
Medications to use with caution
Medications that can react negatively with other medications (drug-drug interactions)
Medications that may need a dosage adjustment based on your kidney function

You can get most of the highlights of the report by visiting HealthinAging.org. If your doctor hasn’t already seen the full version, point them to the AGS professional site or the January edition of the Journal of the American Geriatric Society.

In the meantime, here is a list of relatively common medications that older adults are now advised to avoid or use with caution.
Drugs Older Adults Should Avoid
Diabetes drugs: glyburide (DiaBeta or Micronase) and chlorpropamide (Diabinese)
Muscle relaxants: cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril), methocarbamol (Robaxin), carisoprodol (Soma), and similar medications
Anxiety drugs: benzodiazepines, such alprazolam (Xanax), lorazepam (Ativan), diazepam (Valium), and chlordiazepoxide (Librium)
Insomnia drugs: zaleplon (Sonata), zolpidem (Ambien), and eszopiclone (Lunesta)
Antidepressants: amitriptyline (Elavil) and imipramine (Tofranil)
Parkinson’s drug: trihexyphenidyl (Artane)
Irritable bowel syndrome drug: dicyclomine (Bentyl)
Prescription pain reliever: meperidine (Demerol)
Drugs for menopause symptoms: estrogen pills and patches
OTC antihistamines: diphenhydramine (Benadryl), except for the treatment of severe allergic reaction, and chlorpheniramine (Aller-Chlor and Chlor-Trimeton)
OTC sleep aids that contain antihistamines: Tylenol PM (contains diphenhydramine) and similar medications
Drugs Older Adults Should Use with Caution
Pain relievers in the NSAID class: celecoxib, aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen. Avoid them if you have heart failure with symptoms, and use them with caution if you have heart failure without symptoms. Also, consider avoiding aspirin, ibuprofen, and naproxen entirely if you’re older than 75, taking an oral steroid, or taking a prescription blood thinner.
Heart failure or irregular heartbeat medication: digoxin (Lanoxin). Ask about safer alternatives.
Antipsychotic medications, unless you are being treated for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or chemotherapy side effects: haloperidol (Haldol), risperidone (Risperdal), or quetiapine (Seroquel)
How to Use This List

Of course, there are exceptions to everything, and there are some cases in which one or more of the drugs listed above truly is best for an older adult.

“All drugs have risks,” Fink says. “Our panel—which included clinicians, research scientists, private practice providers, pharmacists, and nurses—really tried to weigh the risk and benefits to figure out which ones belong on this list.”

Your own doctor can take it a step further by factoring in your medical history, health conditions, current medications, and any personal risk factors. If you’re concerned about a medication you are taking, continue taking it as directed, but call your doctoras soon as possible. After reviewing your information, your doctor will decide if it’s best for you to continue, change, or stop your medication.