Cristina Íñiguez: «The same wrinkles that we have on our face appear inside our brain»

The head of the Neurology Service of the Zaragoza Clinical Hospital has just been re-elected vice president of the board of directors of the Spanish Society of Neurology

Elon Musk claims that one of his companies has implanted a brain chip in a human to be able to control a cell phone and a computer with thought. Is he crazy or ahead of his time?

To carry out a trial of this type, it had to pass the control of the FDA, which is the regulatory agency in the United States. The problem is that the way to communicate a scientific advance is not a social network. What you have to do is send your work to a prestigious magazine and publish it. We have been putting neurostimulators in the brain for more than 20 years. This improves Parkinson's disease.

What new technological advances will we see in the future?

A lot of. So much so that in the new board of directors of the Spanish Society of Neurology, a committee dedicated to artificial intelligence and new technologies has been created. It is also true that in recent years Neurology is the specialty that has advanced the most, along with Oncology. We have gone from having practically no treatment for anything to having it for a large number of diseases.

What are the brain consequences of abusing technology?

One of the tips we give is that you should try to avoid multitasking. It causes our performance to drop a lot and the brain receives too many stimuli. We would have to limit the hours we use social networks, mobile phones and video games to protect our brain health.

Does the brain age?

Yes, everything ages. There are times when I explain to patients that the same wrinkles that we have on our face appear inside our brain. What we have to do is for our brain to age in a healthy way.

What are the main enemies of our brain?

The toxic ones. Alcohol, tobacco and drugs are the main ones. Then, bad eating habits that cause you to have high blood pressure and cholesterol, be overweight or have diabetes. And it is also very important to wear a helmet when you ride a bicycle or skate, because blows to the brain have serious consequences in the short and long term.

Is there much left to know about him?

Very much. Experimentation is very difficult because our brain is unique.

«The brain is the most wonderful organ we have. "Controls everything" 

«I would like to encourage residents or future residents who have to take up a specialty to opt for Neurology. It has an impressive and exciting future." 

«As I am dedicated to multiple sclerosis, I would like it to have a cure or total prevention» 

"In Aragon we are now beginning to have a deficit of neurologists, although less than other autonomous communities" 

Did you always want to be a doctor?

Yes. I am a vocational doctor. When I was little I played with my grandmother; She would get sick and I would cure her.

Why did you choose the specialty of Neurology?

It seems to me that the brain is the most wonderful organ we have. Controls everything. How can you not dedicate yourself to studying something like that? The mir grades have just come out and I would like to encourage residents or future residents who have to take a specialty to opt for Neurology. It has an impressive future and it is exciting.

He started working at the Zaragoza Clinical Hospital in 1992 and continues to like his work.

I like the cordial treatment with people and coming to the hospital. Every year we welcome two new residents. Having two people of 25 or 26 years old come with their concerns, that ends up rubbing off on you and encourages you not to miss the train.

How do you see Aragonese healthcare?

I can talk about Neurology, which is what I know. We are very lucky that Santiago Ramón y Cajal - who is the father of Neurology - studied here, so there is a lot of neurological vocation. So much so that every year we train four residents (two at the Miguel Servet Hospital and two at the Clinic). But now we are beginning to have a deficit of neurologists, although less than other communities.

What achievement would you like to see?

Since I am dedicated to multiple sclerosis, I would like it to have a cure or total prevention. In the last 20 years we have gone from having no treatment to having almost 18, which is changing the natural history of the disease. In that aspect, I feel satisfied to have participated in this evolution.

By the way, congratulations on your re-election as vice president of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Society of Neurology.

Thank you so much. One of the things that makes me most excited as vice president of Institutional Relations is that I have to take responsibility for launching the brain bus this year, with which the concept of a healthy brain is disseminated.

Photos: Guillermo Mestre. Cristina Íñiguez, this Friday, at the Lozano Blesa University Clinical Hospital in Zaragoza.

Source: Heraldo de Aragón