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| Deep stimulation 'boosts memory' | Deep stimulation 'boosts memory' |
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| Electrical stimulation of areas deep within the brain could improve memory, early research suggests. | Electrical stimulation of areas deep within the brain could improve memory, early research suggests. |
| A team of doctors in Canada stumbled upon the finding while attempting to treat a morbidly obese man through deep brain stimulation (DBS). | A team of doctors in Canada stumbled upon the finding while attempting to treat a morbidly obese man through deep brain stimulation (DBS). |
| The electrical stimulation caused the patient to experience vivid memories. | The electrical stimulation caused the patient to experience vivid memories. |
| The findings, reported in the Annals of Neurology, potentially pave the way for electrical stimulation to treat disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. | The findings, reported in the Annals of Neurology, potentially pave the way for electrical stimulation to treat disorders such as Alzheimer's disease. |
| We hope it might provide benefit to patients with memory disorders Andres LozanoToronto Western Hospital | We hope it might provide benefit to patients with memory disorders Andres LozanoToronto Western Hospital |
| Lead researcher Professor Andres Lozano, of the Toronto Western Hospital, said: "This is a single case that was totally unexpected. | Lead researcher Professor Andres Lozano, of the Toronto Western Hospital, said: "This is a single case that was totally unexpected. |
| "We knew immediately this was important. We are sufficiently intrigued to see if this could help people with memory disorders." | "We knew immediately this was important. We are sufficiently intrigued to see if this could help people with memory disorders." |
| The team had been trying to help a 50-year-old obese man with type 2 diabetes and sleeping disorders who had failed to respond to diet, medications and psychological help. | The team had been trying to help a 50-year-old obese man with type 2 diabetes and sleeping disorders who had failed to respond to diet, medications and psychological help. |
| He had refused gastric surgery, and doctors decided deep brain stimulation, although experimental, was his best option. | He had refused gastric surgery, and doctors decided deep brain stimulation, although experimental, was his best option. |
| DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION Electrodes are implanted in the brain under local anaesthesia, with the patient awake so their responses can be monitoredThe electrodes are stimulated by a "pacemaker" stitched into the chestIt has been used for more than a decade to treat tremor, and more recently to treat Parkinson's disease, chronic pain and depressionSide effects can include apathy, hallucinations, depression, and even compulsive gambling - but often they are temporary | DEEP BRAIN STIMULATION Electrodes are implanted in the brain under local anaesthesia, with the patient awake so their responses can be monitoredThe electrodes are stimulated by a "pacemaker" stitched into the chestIt has been used for more than a decade to treat tremor, and more recently to treat Parkinson's disease, chronic pain and depressionSide effects can include apathy, hallucinations, depression, and even compulsive gambling - but often they are temporary |
| It has been found to have an impact on appetite in animal tests, but has not been widely tested as a treatment for obesity in humans. | It has been found to have an impact on appetite in animal tests, but has not been widely tested as a treatment for obesity in humans. |
| However, it has been used to treat Parkinson's disease, chronic pain, severe cluster headaches and even depression with some success. | However, it has been used to treat Parkinson's disease, chronic pain, severe cluster headaches and even depression with some success. |
| The technique involves implanting electrodes into the brain: in this case into an area in the limbic system called the hypothalamus, which is thought to control the appetite. | |
| When the electrodes were stimulated by electrical impulses the patient began to experience feelings of deja vu. | When the electrodes were stimulated by electrical impulses the patient began to experience feelings of deja vu. |
| He then had a sudden perception of being in a park with friends. | He then had a sudden perception of being in a park with friends. |
| He felt younger, thought he was around 20-years-old, and his girlfriend of the time was there. He was an observer, and saw the scene in colour. | He felt younger, thought he was around 20-years-old, and his girlfriend of the time was there. He was an observer, and saw the scene in colour. |
| As the intensity of the stimulation increased, details in the scene became more vivid. | As the intensity of the stimulation increased, details in the scene became more vivid. |
| Memory tests | Memory tests |
| Following surgery, the patient recovered for two months. But later when the electrodes were stimulated for a second time, he experienced a similar effect. | Following surgery, the patient recovered for two months. But later when the electrodes were stimulated for a second time, he experienced a similar effect. |
| After three weeks of constant electrical stimulation the patient performed better in memory tests than he had previously done. | After three weeks of constant electrical stimulation the patient performed better in memory tests than he had previously done. |
| A year later he again performed well in memory tests when the electrodes were stimulated, but less well when they were switched off. | A year later he again performed well in memory tests when the electrodes were stimulated, but less well when they were switched off. |
| The results suggest it might be possible to use deep brain stimulation directly to boost memory. | The results suggest it might be possible to use deep brain stimulation directly to boost memory. |
| "We hopefully have found a circuit in the brain which can be modulated by stimulation, and which might provide benefit to patients with memory disorders," said Professor Lozano. | "We hopefully have found a circuit in the brain which can be modulated by stimulation, and which might provide benefit to patients with memory disorders," said Professor Lozano. |
| Professor Lozano is now leading a pilot study into whether deep brain stimulation can help people with early Alzheimer's disease. They are initially testing six patients. | Professor Lozano is now leading a pilot study into whether deep brain stimulation can help people with early Alzheimer's disease. They are initially testing six patients. |
| Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, welcomed the move but said further work was clearly needed. | Rebecca Wood, Chief Executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, welcomed the move but said further work was clearly needed. |
| She said: "It will be interesting to see whether this method offers any benefit to people with Alzheimer's. | She said: "It will be interesting to see whether this method offers any benefit to people with Alzheimer's. |
| "With the number of people with Alzheimer's forecast to double within a generation, we urgently need to find ways to tackle this awful disease, but research is hugely under-funded." | "With the number of people with Alzheimer's forecast to double within a generation, we urgently need to find ways to tackle this awful disease, but research is hugely under-funded." |