Abstract: A system (20) comprises a radiation source (48) and a controller (44). The controller is configured to designate multiple target regions (84) on an eye (25) of a patient (22) for irradiation with respective amounts of energy, to cause the radiation source to irradiate at least a first one of the target regions, to identify a change in the eye by processing an image of the eye subsequently to causing the radiation source to irradiate at least the first one of the target regions, and to refrain, in response to identifying the change, from causing the radiation source to irradiate a second one of the target regions, which has not yet been irradiated, with the amount of energy designated for the second one of the target regions. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided including identifying a subject as being at risk of cognitive decline due to cardiac surgery. The method further includes implanting at least one neural stimulator in a vicinity of a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG) of the subject, and applying stimulation to the SPG by activating the neural stimulator at least during the cardiac surgery. Other applications are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes identifying that a subject is at risk of suffering from vascular dementia (VaD). Responsively to the identifying, a risk of development of the VaD is reduced by applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and configuring the stimulation to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances. Other embodiments are also described.

Abstract: A method is provided, including identifying an electrical stimulation protocol as being suitable for augmenting genesis of one or more cell populations in at least one brain region of the subject. The cell genesis is augmented by applying the identified stimulation protocol to an SPG, a greater palatine nerve, a branch of the greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, a lesser deep petrosal nerve, a maxillary nerve, a branch of the maxillary nerve, a nasopalatine nerve, a peripheral site that provides direct or indirect afferent innervation to the SPG, or a peripheral site that is directly or indirectly efferently innervated by the SPG.

Abstract: A method is provided that includes identifying that a subject is at risk of suffering from vascular dementia (VaD). Responsively to the identifying, a risk of development of the VaD is reduced by applying electrical stimulation to a site of the subject selected from the group consisting of: a sphenopalatine ganglion (SPG), a greater palatine nerve, a lesser palatine nerve, a sphenopalatine nerve, a communicating branch between a maxillary nerve and an SPG, an otic ganglion, an afferent fiber going into the otic ganglion, an efferent fiber going out of the otic ganglion, an infraorbital nerve, a vidian nerve, a greater superficial petrosal nerve, and a lesser deep petrosal nerve; and configuring the stimulation to induce at least one neuroprotective occurrence selected from the group consisting of: an increase in cerebral blood flow of the subject, and a release of one or more neuroprotective substances. Other embodiments are also described.