Health Alert: Memory Boost?

6 million Americans and 30 million people worldwide are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease each year. It is the 6th leading cause of death in the US and the 5th leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older. New research shows that stimulating key areas of the brain can improve memory. A research team looked at 7 epilepsy patients who already had electrodes implanted in their brains. When nerve fibers in the patients’ entorhinal cortex were stimulated during learning, they later recognized landmarks and navigated better, reflecting improved spatial memory. This may lead to neuro-prosthetic devices that can activate during certain stages of information processing or daily tasks. New England Journal of Medicine, Feb 2012