Cure for Alzheimer's Found?

During a routine operation, scientists have come across a mechanism that could help discover a way to bring back lost memories.

During an experimental operation, scientists practically came across a possible cure for Alzheimer’s disease. Doctors made this accidental, but extraordinary discovery, during an operation aimed at cutting the appetite through brain stimulations in an older man who had food issues. Until this moment, the operation had proved to be an extremely efficient procedure. 

Electrodes that were introduced in his brain released electric energy. Instead of losing appetite, the patient experienced an intensive feeling of déjà vu. He managed to remember things that had happened 30 years before in every detail. Additional tests showed that his capability to learn and remember increased considerably while his brain functions were stimulated.

Electrodes to remember 

Doctors are now using this technique to help people who suffer from Alzheimer’s disease. If these tests give positive results, this cure can give hope to people who suffer from this degenerative stage of their memory. They would use some sort of pacemaker especially designed for the brain. Currently, three patients have been trialling this therapy and according to professor Andreas Lozano (Toronto Western Hospital, Ontario), who is leading this study, this procedure is very promising.

- This is the first time that anyone has had electrodes implanted in the brain which have been shown to improve memory. We are driving the activity of the brain by increasing its sensitivity – turning up the volume of the memory circuits. Any event that involves the memory circuits is more likely to be stored and retained – said professor Lozano.

Scientists were amazed with the discovery because the region of the brain in which the electrodes were introduced, the hypothalamus, is not usually the place where memory is kept. The memory part of the brain is called the fronix, and it is directly connected with memories and feelings. Presently there are 6 patients with implanted electrodes, which are linked to a cable that passes beneath the skull through the neck to the thorax where a special battery has been inserted under the skin. Constant waves of electricity, on which the patient has no influence, pass through to stimulate the brain.

How does the brain stimulation work? 

Stimulations have been used for over ten years to fight depression, chronicle diseases, Parkinson’s disease and other disorders. This method’s best results came from therapies carried out on people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease. More than 4,000 people around the world have used this special pacemaker.

Medicine is making progress and operations more easy to be carried out and with lower risks, than ever before, so they expect a real wave of patients to use the new method, although it is expensive. At least they will not need additional medicines.

Electrodes are implanted in the patients while there are awake and under local anaesthetic. Surgeons perform a craniotomy, where they lift part of the skull, and then introduce the electrodes. Their location depends on the stage of the patients’ illness, so it is not the same for everyone. This method was developed in France, and licensed in the USA in 1997.

Although there have been many supposed ultimate cures for Alzheimer’s in the past years, this therapy seems the most promising.