Replays may aid dementia patients

UNITED STATES: Alzheimer’s sufferers could once again remember the faces of loved ones, after scientists developed a way to boost memories.

In a groundbreaking pilot study, US researchers recorded memories as they were formed and then played them back into the brains of 10 patients. They found it increased memory performance by up to 37 per cent.

The study focused on improving episodic memory, which is the most common type of memory loss in people suffering from Alzheimer’s disease, strokes and head injuries.

Episodic memory is information that is new and useful for a short period of time, such as where a car is parked.

‘‘This is the first time scientists have been able to identify a patient’s own brain cell code or pattern for memory and, in essence, write in that code to make existing memory work better, an important first step in potentially restoring memory loss,’’ said Dr Robert Hampson, a professor of physiology/pharmacology and neurology.

For the new study, researchers enrolled 10 epilepsy patients who were already participating in a separate experiment mapping their brains.

The participants were asked to study a simple image – such as a coloured block – while their brain activity was recorded. Scientists then blanked the screen and asked them to choose the correct image from five options.

They found that when they asked the participants to remember while playing back the recorded memory into the hippocampus region of their brains, performance improved by 37 per cent.