Non-pharmacological Treatments for Memory Decline

It was recently reported on ABC news (Mon Oct 15, 2012) that drug companies are abandoning research into the development of new drugs for dementia.

The key reasons cited for this trend were the enormous costs involved in drug development and little success with disease modifying drugs, particularly for Alzheimer's Disease, the most common form of dementia.

With dementia widely recognised as a ballooning problem for not only in Australia but across the world over, this then raises the question of what other treatment options are out there?

In fact there are several other potentially promising lines of research investigating non-pharmacological treatments for memory decline. These non-drug based treatments share one thing in common, capitalising on the neuroplastic and regenerative properties of the brain.

One such treatment which has gained increasing attention is cognitive remediation, a psychological intervention which has been particularly investigated in people with schizophrenia. This form of intervention typically involves the use of brain training exercises and teaching of memory strategies, with research overall showing robust benefits for memory and cognition, as well as improvements in quality of life. Cognitive remediation has additionally recently been trialled in people at risk for dementia, with early promising results showing improvements in memory.

Another exciting new intervention is through using mild forms of brain stimulation. These brain stimulation techniques involve the application of small electric currents or brief magnetic pulses into the brain for the purpose of transiently modulating brain activity. These non-invasive forms of stimulation have been shown to be effective in treating depression, and there is now some preliminary research showing that they can also be used to enhance memory in older persons and people suffering from Alzheimer's Disease.

Though the research into these new non-pharmacological treatments to help improve memory is very much preliminary at this stage, with more research these treatments may become more widely available in the future. Most likely these new treatments will be used to supplement existing drug treatments, as additional “booster” treatments to help delay cognitive decline and improve quality of life.

ANTS conducts a Cognitive Remediation Programme based in Sydney's inner west. For more information please contact us.

Researchers at the University of New South Wales are also currently conducting a research trial investigating the use of mild brain stimulation for people at risk for dementia. More information about this trial is available at http://www.cheba.unsw.edu.au/project/brain-stimulation-and-cognitive-training.

What do you mean my brain is plastic?

It's strange but true, our brains are like plastic!

What this means is that our brains can be 'moulded'. As we learn, think, grow and gain new experiences our brains change and reorganise themselves. The fancy scientific term for this is "neuroplasticity".

While the neuroplasticity of children's brains has been well established, until fairly recently it was thought that adult's brains were fixed or hard-wired and unable to be moulded. Hence cliches like "you can't teach an old dog new tricks".

Well, luckily for anyone over the age of 18, it it turns out that you can!

The next series of blogs focuses on research and case studies that demonstrate that our brains have the ability to adapt to our environment and that we can keep on learning and improving throughout out lives. Another big thanks to ANTS-er Karen who is on top of all the fascinating neuro news!

Brain adapts when a limb is damaged

A fascinating study undertaken by Prof Lutz Jancke and colleagues at the University of Zurich in Switzerland has shown that when a limb is damaged and immobilised the thickness in the cerebral cortex (brain matter) associated with that part of the body reduces.

In a study that is the first of its kind, 10 right-handed people who had broken their dominant (right) arms had MRI brain scans within 48 hours of their accidents before their arms where placed in plaster/slings and again 16 days later while immobilised. The researchers also measured signals sent from brain to the right arm and the dexterity of their non-dominant left hand.

They found that the thickness of the motor cortex (brain cells that control movement) on the left side of the brain (which controls the right arm) decreased significantly in response to the arm's lack of use, and the signals from that part of the brain to the hand reduced. Whereas the dexterity of the left hand increased, as did the thickness of the part of the brain controlling movement in the left hand - in this case particularly the pre-motor cortex, which is involved in planning complex movements.

Dr Penelope McNulty of Neuroscience Research Australia said about the study:

"It just shows how dynamic the brain remodelling really can be. As far as I'm aware, this is one of the first studies to show that inactivity produces plasticity in the human brain."

This study has implications for the treatment of many conditions where there is loss of use of a part of the body, such as strokes.

It also reinforces that when it comes to the brain you need to use it or lose it!

We'd love to hear from you! Maybe you have a story about how your brain has changed, or maybe you'd like to know more about how to make the most of your exceptional brain. You can post a comment below or contact us here.