Brain pacemaker can be helpful in slowing down cognitive decline in Alzheimer’s patients

Most treatments for Alzheimer’s focuses on improving memory of patients. But researchers from Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center are aiming to treat Alzheimer’s by using brain pacemaker that could slow down gradual decline in cognitive, functional, and behavioral characteristics. The researchers used thin electrical wires that were implanted at the frontal lobes of the brain of patients with Alzheimer’s disease. This set-up worked as a pacemaker and the researchers checked whether this can be effective for controlling Alzheimer’s, a type of dementia.

The deep-brain stimulation (DBS) is identical to cardiac pacemaker implants that are used to stimulate heart beat in people with cardiac problems. However, DBS implant is placed at the frontal lobes of the brain, i.e., the region responsible for controlling the problem assessment and decision-making abilities of a person. The research focused on stimulating the frontal lobe region of the brain in order to treat decline in the cognitive and behavioral skills of a person. This decline is common in people with Alzheimer’s, thus, brain implants can possibly be helpful for patients suffering from the condition. The findings of this study were published in the Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.

The researchers also stated that the brain implant treatment has been found effective for the treatment of over 135,000 patients with Parkinson’s disease all over the globe. Moreover, the study participants also experienced positive changes in their life after brain pacemaker treatment. This method of treatment can be revolutionary for people who suffer from Alzheimer’s.