If your loved one has Alzheimer's, a new procedure could help
their memory loss. The new approach is called deep brain
stimulation, or DBS. Doctors at Ohio State University say the
constant electrical stimulation of brain circuits involved in
memory and thinking might keep those neural networks active for
longer, essentially bypassing some of dementia's damage. The
procedure, which takes five hours, consists of holes being
drilled into the patient's skull so tiny wires can be implanted
into just the right spot. A battery-powered generator is also
placed near the collarbone that sends tiny shocks to the neck
and brain. Researchers say while it won't attack the root cause
of the disease, it may make the brain work better. Currently
more than 5 million Americans have Alzheimer's or similar
dementias, and that number is expected to rise rapidly as the
baby boomers age.