Can we reverse the memory decline caused by age? Scientists say yes

According to the Alzheimer's Association, an estimated 6.

Dr.

In a study recently published in the journal Nature Neuroscience, Reinhart and his research team explain how they can perform non-invasive treatment through electrodes in wearable caps that improve memory function in older adults and put us one step

What did the study find?

This non-invasive treatment of target memory function through scalp electrodes found that 20 minutes of electrical stimulation for 4 consecutive days can improve working memory and long-term memory in people aged 65 years and older for at least one month

Low-frequency electrode activity improved working memory on days 3, 4, and 1 after the intervention, while on days 2, 4, and 1 after the intervention, high-frequency electrode activity improved long-term memory

How does this paper expand on previous research on electrical stimulation in the treatment of memory loss?

In the new study, the researchers used 20 minutes of stimulation for multiple consecutive days to produce lasting memory improvements

Another important difference is that in recent studies, researchers developed two brain stimulation protocols — one that selectively improves short-term memory through low-frequency parietal stimulation, and the other that selectively improves long-term memory

What are the practical implications of these findings?

An aging population causes additional personal, social, medical and economic costs

During aging, the severity of memory decline varies from person to person, and rapid decline in memory may be a harbinger of Alzheimer's disease and other dementias

Existing treatments for cognitive impairment are limited by mixed treatment outcomes, slow improvement, and concomitant risks and side effects

Clinically, this is important because some people only have short-term memory problems and some people only have long-term memory problems

What's next?

Further research is needed to determine whether these effects can last for more than a month, and whether these specific approaches can also enhance memory function

Article title

Long-lasting, dissociable improvements in working memory and long-term memory in older adults with repetitive neuromodulation