Electrical Currents To the Brain Improve Memory for Older Adults, Study Finds (theverge.com) 28
Pulsing electrical currents through the brain for 20 minutes can boost memory for older adults for at least a month, according to a new study. From a report: Around 8 percent of people in the US get diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease or dementia as they get older -- significantly impairing their memory -- and an even larger group of older adults has some degree of age-related memory loss. This new study is only a first look at a potential solution. But easy, quick treatments like this one could become even more important as the world's population rapidly ages -- especially if future research shows that it can help with more serious cognitive conditions.
The brain stimulation done in this study, published Monday in Nature Neuroscience, came from a swim cap-like device studded with electrodes positioned to deliver the electric current to specific areas of the brain. The research team was interested in two main areas: one that's linked with working memory (which holds information temporarily and overlaps with short-term memory) and another linked with long-term memory. The research team divided 60 participants between the ages of 65 and 88 into three groups: one group wore the device but didn't get any electrical stimulation; the second received stimulation in the region associated with working memory; and the third received stimulation in the area associated with long-term memory.
The brain stimulation done in this study, published Monday in Nature Neuroscience, came from a swim cap-like device studded with electrodes positioned to deliver the electric current to specific areas of the brain. The research team was interested in two main areas: one that's linked with working memory (which holds information temporarily and overlaps with short-term memory) and another linked with long-term memory. The research team divided 60 participants between the ages of 65 and 88 into three groups: one group wore the device but didn't get any electrical stimulation; the second received stimulation in the region associated with working memory; and the third received stimulation in the area associated with long-term memory.
Re: Let's go Brandon (Score:5, Insightful)
Re: Anominous (Score:1)
I want one like Louis Wu (Score:2)
Does not only wonders for the memory.
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As I recall even he resented it - though he was responsible enough about his crippling addiction to manage to not completely destroy his life.
In the real world experiments attempting to replicate the results in humans have been... dramatically underwhelming. Though rats will go zap-happy until they starve to death, so it's not entirely clear what's different. Then again the rats were probably locked in a cage with nothing else to do, which has since been shown to dramatically bias various other addiction
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Interestingly, even with opium there is some evidence that a rich and stimulating environment reduces the addictive effect in rats. I suspect that translates to humans as well. If your life doesn't suck, you're less likely to become a degenerate addict.
So naturally, the "justice" system handles addiction by making the addict's life suck even more.
One more device to plug in (Score:5, Funny)
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Don't fret too much, bought mine new on Ebay and it doesn't work anyway. Didn't realize if you put it over tinfoil it will short out.
The seller braincapsusa was A+++ though, took it back with no questions asked.
In a few years ... (Score:4, Funny)
Not the only way. (Score:3, Funny)
I've found that people who have told me they "don't know" or "don't remember" something usually have a breakthrough in their ability to recollect the information once I begin hooking up wires from a car battery to their genitals. The weird thing is, most suddenly remember before I complete the circuit. Clearly, this warrants further investigation.
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What idiot marked this as Troll? Has it really become so impossible to make a joke that someone would take this seriously?
TV (Score:3)
Gotta be said... (Score:2)
Crank it up (Score:1)
These experiments are intersting but... (Score:2)
It was involving applying the charge to the brains of soldiers and it put them into a state of no recollection where their physical actions in a shooting range took on a far greater precision and accuracy.
It's cool that it works, other than the part where it has already been used to effectively turn humans into mindless killing machines.
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Actually, if I remember the NPR article [npr.org]correctly, the reporter who did a video training course one day, then did the electrotherapy the next day scored much higher AND felt more situational awareness and clarity, hardly mindless killing machines
Mindfullness is the benefit, whether it is set to learning any task, killing or otherwise
This one SHOCKING trick will improve your memory! (Score:2)
When I was little (Score:2)
When I was little, sticking a knife into the socket to see what would happen "...Explains a lot of things" for the rest of my life. Now that I'm a senior, apparently it's time to try it again!
the untold story (Score:2)
AC/DC (Score:1)
Left-handedness is an exclusion criterion (Score:2)
Left-handedness is an exclusion criterion, so it looks like I'm looking forward to an old age with interventions like this not working for me since these experiments don't study my type.
Yeah, i see where this is going... (Score:2)
Doctor: "You better remember what you had for breakfast, you old hag. And better make it quick or we'll zap you again!
Old Lady: "No, please mister, not the zap again! I'll remember! Just no more zapping! Please! AAAAARGGGHGHGHG!