Brain pacemaker could help fight Alzheimer's disease
By: Nikki Henderson
Updated: January 21, 2013
If your loved one has Alzheimer's, a new procedure could help their memory loss.
The new approach is called deep brain stimulation, or DBS.
Doctors at Ohio State University say the constant electrical stimulation of brain circuits involved in memory and thinking might keep those neural networks active for longer, essentially bypassing some of dementia's damage.
The procedure, which takes five hours, consists of holes being drilled into the patient's skull so tiny wires can be implanted into just the right spot. A battery-powered generator is also placed near the collarbone that sends tiny shocks to the neck and brain.
Researchers say while it won't attack the root cause of the disease, it may make the brain work better.
Currently more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's or similar dementias, and that number is expected to rise rapidly as the baby boomers age.
