Phreakn cool. By coincidence, I could really use this due to an unknown and variable sympathetic NS dysfunction that creates unfathomable general anxiety, essential tremor, vestibular dysfunction. So much so, I cannot, in any way, sleep without a sedative (mirtazapine, and melatonin).
Suspected cause is withdrawl (dyscalibration), neuropathy and/or neuritis of adrenergic or sympathetic systems due to previous serotonin modulator scrip, vortioxetine. Because the anxiety and fight-or-flight response is so hyperactive, I’m on the typical anxiolytics except benzos and buspar. Mirtazapine and propranolol have it almost under control; baclofen and/or hydroxyzine when I’m too stressed, unable to focus or not present... however these worsen tremors. Going to have to up propranolol if tremors get worse, hopefully won’t need as much baclofen or hydroxyzine. Vigorous exercise can only handle the equivalent stress as hydroxyzine does on it’s own.
Interesting study. Using cortisol to make a functional template seems like a more promising approach than functionalizing the sensor with an antibody (as in other cortisol sensing literature), especially since they are using an elastometic substrate.
As with most electrochemical sensing studies, this is much closer to proof of concept than manufacturable product. Measuring things on skin in sweat is hard work.
That being said, I’d love a patch to measure my stress levels and hope some day the tech exists to do so.
I am both optimistic about its application to other hormones and pessimistic given the failure of glucose reading and the discoveries that not even all blood sources are equal apparently. Heck not even all cholesterol is equal and it took time for science to figure that out.
The easy quantification could have interesting implications if it is sufficiently spot-on however.
Suspected cause is withdrawl (dyscalibration), neuropathy and/or neuritis of adrenergic or sympathetic systems due to previous serotonin modulator scrip, vortioxetine. Because the anxiety and fight-or-flight response is so hyperactive, I’m on the typical anxiolytics except benzos and buspar. Mirtazapine and propranolol have it almost under control; baclofen and/or hydroxyzine when I’m too stressed, unable to focus or not present... however these worsen tremors. Going to have to up propranolol if tremors get worse, hopefully won’t need as much baclofen or hydroxyzine. Vigorous exercise can only handle the equivalent stress as hydroxyzine does on it’s own.