Accidental Memory Stimulation Points at Possible Alzheimer's Treatment

Researchers at the Toronto Western Hospital and Research Institute of the University of Toronto have made one of the most groundbreaking developments in the race for a treatment and possible cure for Alzheimer's. A study published in the January 29th Annals of Neurology reveals that surgeons operating on an awake obese patient under general anesthesia discovered that brain stimulation evoked detailed autobiographical memories. The procedure was a last attempt to control the patient's morbidly obese weight and involved Bilateral hypothalamic deep brain stimulation. Researchers tried to find appetite-suppressant areas in the hypothalmus.

As surgeons implanted electrodes into the patient's brain, he suddenly began to experience a flood of memories from a visit to a park he had made decades earlier. He recounted events in amazing detail, from the weather to the types of clothes his friends were wearing. As the current on the electrodes intensified, the memories grew richer in detail. He performed better in simple recall tests with the electrodes turned on than when the current was turned off. Subsequently, the same memories were recounted when surgeons at the Toronto Western Hospital applied current to the same area of the brain two months later.

Deep brain stimulation has already shown to be effective against Parkinson's disease. A neurostimulator surgically implanted into the brain of Parkinson's patients results in marked reduction of tremors, rigidity, and stiffness. The patients are also able to increase speed of movement and have less difficulty walking. In the situation of the obese patient, surgeons monitored the changes in brainwave function through EEG monitors and noticed an increase in brainwave frequency. Sufferers of Alzheimer's have decreased brainwave frequency.

News of this study comes only weeks after researchers at the University of Sunderland developed a helmet that they believe may be able to treat dementia. The helmet releases low levels of infra-red light into the patient brain to improve learning performances and the brain's cognitive function. Human trials will soon take place to see if the 1072 nm of infra-red can provide a cure for neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's.

Sources:
Ami Albernaz, Surgery pushed memory's buttons by accident Boston.com
Memory enhancement induced by hypothalamic/fornix deep brain stimulation Annals of Neurology (Volume 63, Issue 1)
Can This Infra-Red Helmet Cure Alzheimer's In 10 Minutes A Day?, ScientifficBlogging.com