Can Deep Brain Stimulation Help People with Alzheimer's Disease?

Alzheimer's disease is the degenerative condition which leads to memory loss and dementia. Alzheimer's disease usually affects the older population; the condition gradually gets worse as life goes on. There is no cure or any useful treatment in the later stages of the disease. Caregivers are usually needed for individuals suffering from advanced Alzheimer's disease. The Alzheimer's patient will not be capable of rational thought or problem solving; they won't even be capable of taking care of their own personal needs.

The exact cause of Alzheimer's disease is unknown, but a number of theories exist about its pathology. One hypothesis is that the body generates faulty proteins; it is also believed that a less than normal amount of a specific protein called acetylcholine may also be a possible cause. Though, Alzheimer's disease doesn't seem to be an inherited condition, there are a number of genes that have been identified as markers for risk factors for Alzheimer's dementia. Despite whatever causes Alzheimer's dementia, the disease results in a loss of neurons inside the brain's memory center. Loss of memory and loss of neurons is accompanied by an increased occurrence of plaques within the brain.

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS)

In January of 2008, Canadian doctors started a study about the effects of DBS on 6 Alzheimer's disease patients. The doctors discovered, quite by accident, that deep brain stimulation could stimulate the retrieval of old memories that were long forgotten. The doctors were working with one patient to stimulate the satiety center of the brain (hypothalamus) to cure obesity when they discovered this treatment could be used to help Alzheimer's patients to regain their memory. In the study, the doctors found it particularly interesting that the overweight DBS patient consistently scored higher during memory tests when the electrodes on the patient's head were activated, and scored lower when the electrodes were turned off.

Other treatments for Alzheimer's disease

At the present time, there is no effective treatment available for Alzheimer's disease. Thus, it is important that people maintain a healthy lifestyle, which includes diet, exercise and mental exercise. There are medicines used for treating Alzheimer's disease, though none of them are effective enough to reverse the manifestations of dementia. Some of the drugs used to treat Alzheimer's disease are known as acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, which are used to slow down the degradation of the acetylcholine neurotransmitters. These drugs are not particularly effective in reversing memory loss. Some psychological techniques are used in conjunction with drugs to help treat Alzheimer's disease. Unfortunately, there is currently no cure; however, scientists continue to research for possible treatments and cures for the disease.

Conclusion

At present, the use of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors isn't very effective in stopping or reversing the progression of Alzheimer's disease. This drug is given to slow down the advancement of dementia in Alzheimer's patients. Like other medicines, acetylcholinesterase inhibitors also have numerous side effects, including muscle cramps, vomiting, nausea, and bradycardia (slow heartbeat). Even if there were no side effects to the acetylcholinesterase inhibitors, they are not very effective in stopping or reversing dementia. On the contrary, if confirmed effective, deep brain stimulation might be the very first effective treatment for Alzheimer's disease.

Sources:

Clinicaltrials.gov

Medscape.com