Can a simple brain stimulation device improve memory in older adults and those with mild dementia? According to new research, it can! In a recent study conducted by Boston University, research volunteers wore a swim-cap-like device that delivered low-level electrical pulses to various parts of the brain responsible for short-term and long-term memory. During the 20-minute session, participants were given multiple lists of words to memorize. Following the treatment, they took memory tests to see how many words they could recall. Every single participant improved compared to the memory tests conducted before the treatment. The improvement lasted even when they were retested months later. To learn more about the device, study protocols, and results, click here: Brain Stimulation Study Article.
The full study abstract is available in the a recent edition of Nature Neuroscience: Full Study Abstract