Alzheimer ’s is set up to become one of the defining illness of the twenty-first 100 with the voltage to dissemble up to 16 million by 2050 . With no cures in sight , aform of abstruse brain stimulation ( DBS ) through a “ psyche pacemaker ” has now been put on test to see if it could aid wield this enfeeble disease .
The “ brain pacemaker ” is a surgically implanted set of bantam electrodes that lightly zap the frontal lobes of the brain . Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center recently carry out an highly small study to see whether the gadget can slow down the decline of problem - solving and decision - making acquirement in patients with Alzheimer ’s disease .
It ’s still other daytime for this research , write in theJournal of Alzheimer ’s Disease , but the result of this three - person trial advise it could hold the potential to slow down down the progression of dementia in some people .
The head-on lobe is responsible for thing like problem solving , organization and good judgment , " co - source Dr Douglas Scharre , director of the Division of Cognitive Neurology at Wexner Medical Center , tell in astatement . " By stimulating this area of the brain , patients ’ cognitive functionality pass up more slowly than a typical Alzheimer ’s patient role . ”
On the other hand , autonomous expert are enounce it ’s too early to make a right judgment on the power of abstruse nous stimulation to do Alzheimer ’s , with one psychiatristeven suggestingthat the benefit are " most probable placebo effect " .
LaVonne Moore , an 85 - year - old from Ohio , is one of the 5 million Americans with Alzheimer ’s disease ( picture below ) . When she entered the study in 2013 , her declining condition meant she was unable to make herself a meal . After two days of deep mastermind arousal , she could assemble ingredients and fudge a basic repast almost severally . She was also able to design the ripe clothing for the conditions , make outings , and find a sense of independence .
Her husband of 65 years , Tom Moore , say LaVonne ’s condition has worsened , but noticeably slower than he expect . Tom said : “ LaVonne has had Alzheimer ’s disease longer than anybody I love , and that sounds electronegative , but it ’s really a positive affair because it shows that we ’re doing something right . ”
LaVonne was one of the three patients who receive the implant . While one of the other patient role know likewise confirming results , the other benefited significantly from the discourse .
These result are obviously not stark , but with no therapeutic in the pipeline , this case of treatment could show promise . However , other expert not involved in the study are more skeptical about such an rendering of the effect .
“ This cogitation has not evince that deep mastermind stimulant can slow down or improve cognitive and functional declension in Alzheimer ’s disease , ” Robert Howard , professor of Old Age Psychiatry at UCL , said in astatement . “ It has shown ( albeit in a lowly sample of three patients ) that inscrutable encephalon input looks like safe and well - tolerated in people with Alzheimer ’s disease . ”
