| During a recent experimental brain surgery to control | | | | brain was stimulated. It soon became clear that the |
| the appetite of an obese man the doctors made an | | | | patient performed well in memory tests when the |
| accidental breakthrough that may very well unlock | | | | electrodes were stimulated but less when they were |
| how your memory works. It was simply a side-effect | | | | switched off. |
| of the treatment of obesity, but the memory | | | | Professor Lozano, who also teaches neurosurgery at |
| stimulation could potentially pave the road to treat | | | | the University of Toronto and is a world authority on |
| Alzheimer’s disease. | | | | DPS, stated that the approach could only address the |
| The doctors pushed electrodes deep into the | | | | symptom of forgetfulness. It would not modify the |
| hypothalamus - the section of the brain thought to | | | | course of the disease but could still prove a useful |
| control appetite - and stimulated it with an electric | | | | tool in the fight against dementia. “It gives us |
| current. Instead of suppressing the patient’s | | | | insight into which brain structures are involved in |
| hunger, the deep brain stimulation unlocked vivid | | | | memory,” Professor Lozano said. “It gives us |
| memories of an experience 30 years earlier. This | | | | a means of intervening in the way we have already |
| result was nothing short of amazing and has raised | | | | done in Parkinson’s and for mood disorders such |
| the possibility of a pacemaker for the brain. It has | | | | as depression, and it may have therapeutic benefit in |
| also created a path of study now underway for | | | | people with memory problems.” |
| patients with early Alzheimer’s disease. | | | | The technique is now being studied on six |
| Professor Andes Lozano, lead researcher of the | | | | Alzheimer’s patients in an initial pilot research. |
| Toronto Western Hospital, explained that after his | | | | Only three patients could afford to have the device |
| team planted the electrodes, memory was most | | | | surgically implanted. Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive |
| intense near the fornix, a grouping of fibers that | | | | of the Alzheimer’s Research Trust, stated that |
| carry single signals within the limbic system, which is | | | | she is keeping a close eye on this research as it will |
| involved in memory and emotions and is situated | | | | be interesting to see whether this method offers |
| next to the hypothalamus. | | | | any benefit to people with Alzheimer’s. |
| The patient recalled in detail being in a park with | | | | Though accidental, this ‘discovery’ was |
| friends and then his girlfriend back when he was | | | | greatly appreciated and research is already underway |
| about 20. As the electric pulses intensified he was | | | | to confirm its use as the Alzheimer’s population |
| able to relate the scene more vividly. After surgery, | | | | is expected to double among baby boomers. It has |
| the patient recovered for two months, after which | | | | become an amazing achievement in the ongoing |
| the electrodes were fitted in a second time. More | | | | battle to tackle the disease and we look forward to |
| tests showed that his ability to learn was significantly | | | | its effectiveness on our beloved relatives. |
| improved when the current was switched on and his | | | | |