November 6, 2015

Millions of people suffer from Alzheimer’s, and while there is hope that we are in the early stages of discovering a cure, many need help with memory loss much sooner.

Scientists funded by the US military have developed an electronic implant to help brains that have been damaged by Alzheimer’s. Originally developed to benefit soldiers who need help overcoming memory loss, the decade-long experiment has shown promise in the treatment of other diseases. Best of all, it’s not merely something to look forward to: it’s being tested on humans now. Even so, some believe it could be a while before the device is ready for the general public.

Dr. Clare Walton, of the Alzheimer’s Society, said: “A prosthetic memory device is a very exciting prospect, but it has taken decades of research to get this far and there are still many unknowns that need to be worked out by the scientists. It’s encouraging to see these cutting edge technologies being applied to help people affected by memory loss, but this isn’t something that people with dementia can expect to be readily available in the next decade. If this device is developed further and successfully tested in humans, it could prove to be an effective treatment for some of the symptoms of dementia. However, it will not cure or slow down the progression of the condition.”

Benefits may extend well beyond Alzheimer’s damage. The new US technology has already been tested on nine people who suffer from intractable epilepsy.

We will continue to follow these developments closely at RodMartin.org. Be sure to sign-up for Rod’s newsletter for the latest.