Described herein is a head cooling system comprising: a source of compressed breathable gas; a vortex tube comprising an inlet, a hot gas outlet and a cold gas outlet, the inlet operably connected to the source of compressed breathable gas; and an interface for delivering cooled gas to a nasopharyngeal cavity in fluid communication with the cold gas outlet. The head cooling system may be used in a method to reduce neurodegeneration in a subject, for example neurodegeneration from ischemia, anoxia, cardiac arrest, trauma or neurodegenerative disease. The head cooling system may also be used in a method to prophylactically protect a subject at risk of neurodegeneration, for example neurodegeneration from ischemia, anoxia, cardiac arrest, trauma or neurodegenerative disease.