Deep Brain Stimulation for Alzheimer’s Patients

With studies showing that one in every three senior Americans die from Alzheimer’s or some form of dementia, research for how to prevent and improve the disease is growing. A new process known as Deep Brain Stimulation is in its preliminary clinical trial stages. About ten people have volunteered to have electronic brain stimulators implanted and to participate in the research study for a few years. One of the co-authors of this article, Dr. Douglas Scharre, states: "There are a lot of studies out there that say physical or mental stimulation may reduce the risk or impact of Alzheimer's disease, so we wondered if increasing stimulation to certain parts of the brain may be protective." I found this article relevant because we are discussing Neuroanatomy in physiology right now. The stimulation is focused on the frontal lobe, the decision-making lobe, because it is described as being the last brain area to degenerate. The actual procedure involves inserting wires through the skull and down the subcutaneous tissue under the skin in the neck. The wires are “activated” by pacemaker-like battery packs on the chest that the neurologist uses to stimulate and monitor activity. Researchers use qualitative and quantitative analysis to observe whether using deep brain stimulation improves memory for early-onset Alzheimer’s patients. So far, the one patient mentioned in the article claims to be able to recall information better after using the stimulation. Her family agrees that they see a difference in her memory and are optimistic for the success of the study.

http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=168822