Pushing new frontiers in dementia research, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore (NTU Singapore) scientists have found a new way to treat dementia by sending electrical impulses to specific areas of the brain to enhance the growth of new brain cells.
Known as deep brain stimulation, it is a therapeutic procedure that is already used in some parts of the world to treat various neurological conditions such as tremors or Dystonia, which is characterised by involuntary muscle contractions and spasms.
NTU scientists have discovered that deep brain stimulation could also be used to enhance the growth of brain cells which mitigates the harmful effects of dementia-related conditions and improves short and long-term memory.
Their research has shown that new brain cells, or neurons, can be formed by stimulating the front part of the brain which is involved in memory retention using minute amounts of electricity.
The increase in brain cells reduces anxiety and depression, and promotes improved learning, and boosts overall memory formation and retention.
The research findings open new opportunities for developing novel treatment solutions for patients suffering from memory loss due to dementia-related conditions such as Alzheimer’s and even Parkinson’s disease.
This discovery was published in eLife, a peer-reviewed open-access scientific journal published by the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, the Max Planck Society and the Wellcome Trust.
Assistant Professor Ajai Vyas from NTU’s School of Biological Sciences said, “The findings from the research clearly show the potential of enhancing the growth of brain cells using deep brain stimulation.
“Around 60 per cent of patients do not respond to regular anti-depressant treatments and our research opens new doors for more effective treatment options.”
Dr Lim Lee Wei, an associate professor at Sunway University, Malaysia, who worked on the research project while he was a Lee Kuan Yew Research Fellow at NTU, said that deep brain stimulation brings multiple benefits.
“No negative effects have been reported in such prefrontal cortex stimulation in humans and studies have shown that stimulation also produces anti-depression effects and reduces anxiety.
“Memory loss in older people is not only a serious and widespread problem, but signifies a key symptom of dementia. At least one in 10 people aged 60 and above in Singapore suffer from dementia and this breakthrough could pave the way towards improved treatments for patients.”
Growing new brain cells
For decades, scientists have been finding ways to generate brain cells to boost memory and learning, but more importantly, to also treat brain trauma and injury, and age-related diseases such as dementia.
As part of a natural cycle, brain cells constantly die and get replaced by new ones. The area of the brain responsible for generating new brain cells is known as the hippocampus, which is also involved in memory forming, organising and retention.
By stimulating the front part of the brain known as the prefrontal cortex, new brain cells are formed in the hippocampus although it had not been directly stimulated.
Read more: NTU scientists discover new treatment for dementia
The Latest on: Dementia treatment
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Dementia treatment” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Dementia treatment
- Lecanemab's Promise and Peril: Alzheimer's Treatment Dilemmaon May 10, 2024 at 1:15 pm
The risks and benefits of lecanemab therapy were highlighted at the recent American Geriatrics Society conference.
- The Stages of Dementia, Explainedon May 10, 2024 at 1:00 pm
Medically reviewed by Smita Patel, DO Dementia is a general term for a decreased ability to think, remember, and reason that affects daily life. The most common cause of dementia is Alzheimer’s ...
- Resources for Alzheimer's screening, treatment are woefully inadequate in Ohio | Opinionon May 9, 2024 at 6:10 am
A patient’s delay in a diagnosis is not their fault, but could be disqualifying them for available treatments.
- Dementia is a scary prospect, for ourselves or our presidenton May 9, 2024 at 2:05 am
I’m not afraid of much. Typical fear-inducers like heights, spiders and snakes are no problem for me. Two things do bother me, though. The first involves young ones who don’t know how to swim being ...
- Getting Alzheimer’s treatment to those who need it poses particular challengeson May 9, 2024 at 1:31 am
Diagnosis, treatment, monitoring and access can pose problems for both patients and their doctors, experts said at a STAT virtual event Wednesday.
- What leading brain health experts do every day to help protect themselves from dementiaon May 9, 2024 at 1:00 am
It’s the UK’s biggest killer, but right now there is nothing that can be done about dementia other than to treat its symptoms. In fact, while it currently affects 900,000 people in the UK no new ...
- Dementia Newson May 8, 2024 at 5:00 pm
Mar. 6, 2024 — A noninvasive treatment may help to counter 'chemo ... mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), a risk factor for dementia due to Alzheimer's disease, according to a new ...
- Senior Center hosting walk, dementia education programson May 8, 2024 at 12:57 pm
May is Older Americans Month, and the Alpena Senior Citizens Center is hosting two dementia awareness programs next week. The first is the Dementia Walk, to be held on Wednesday morning, May 15. Meet ...
- Dementia symptoms, treatment: Frequent coffee, loneliness, attending concert raise risks. Check full list of factorson May 6, 2024 at 2:08 pm
Next time you grab that Cappuccino in a concert while you scroll through those reels on Instagram, be warned that you are at the risk of developing dementia. This is a condition that is generally ...
- What is dementia? Types, symptoms, causes and treatmenton May 5, 2024 at 9:00 am
By the year 2040, there will be 1.7 million people in the UK living with dementia, according to the latest concerning forecasts published in leading medical journal The Lancet.
via Bing News