Scientists have shown that using deep brain stimulation (DBS), a technique already used to treat Parkinson's disease, can boost memory by causing new brain cells to be formed. A 'pacemaker' fitted with electrodes is inserted into the brain through holes drilled in the skull.Well-timed pulses from electrodes implanted in the brain can enhance memory in some people, scientists reported in the Journal of Biology.
In the most rigorous demonstration to date of how a pacemaker-like approach might help reduce symptoms of dementia, head injuries, and other conditions.The hope is that such sensitive, timed implants could bolster thinking and memory in a range of conditions, including Alzheimer’s and other dementias, as well as deficits from brain injury. The report is the result of decades of work decoding brain signals, helped along in recent years by large Department of Defense grants intended…
