Alzheimer’s disease is the leading cause of dementia. It causes a progressive loss of memory and thinking skills. There are treatments for Alzheimer’s that can improve symptoms, at least for a time, but there is no cure. Scientists are hard at work learning more about the disease, its causes, and potential treatments. Recently, a group of researchers conducted a test using deep brain stimulation, a treatment that has previously been used to treat people with Parkinson’s disease and other conditions that affect movement. Though it’s still too early to say if the treatment is definitely effective for Alzheimer’s, the results of the study show promise.

Deep Brain Stimulation Improves Symptoms in Study Participants

Deep brain stimulation, or DBS, has previously been tested on the part of the brain that controls memory, this new study took a different approach. The researchers used DBS to stimulate the frontal lobe, which is responsible for enabling a person to perform activities of daily living. They hoped the treatment would lessen symptoms that kept people from doing things like pay their bills, cook meals, and choose clothing. The loss of ability to perform these kinds of actions is what often leads to disability.

The study was extremely small, involving just three patients. However, the results are promising because all three of them showed less decline in ability as compared to a control group of Alzheimer’s patients who did not receive DBS. One of the participants even had improvements.

Though the study has ended, the spouse of one patients believes the implant has allowed his wife to live independently for longer. He credits not only the implant, but the confidence he believes the study gave his wife. When she saw improvements, she felt more positive, and he believes that is one of the reasons she has done so well.

Other Ways to Encourage Positivity

While DBS is a long way from being approved for use as a treatment for Alzheimer’s, you can help your aging relative with Alzheimer’s to be more positive right now. One way to do that is to encourage them to remain as independent as possible. Invite them to assist with household tasks, but simplify the tasks or make them responsible for just a portion so that they can perform the job with ease.

Another way to improve positivity is to hire a home care provider. A home care provider can improve the quality of the older adult’s life. Home care providers can assist the person to keep their house clean, make them feel safer in their home, and help them with personal grooming and dressing. All of these things can make seniors with Alzheimer’s to feel better about themselves, improving their confidence and positive feelings.

Sources

https://www.webmd.com/brain/news/20180202/brain-pacemaker-could-lessen-alzheimers-effects

https://www.nia.nih.gov/health/adapting-activities-people-alzheimers-disease

https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/alzheimers-disease/symptoms-causes/syc-20350447

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