John Paquet IIIBME 181 S0104 March 2013

Deteriorates memory, cognition, and behavioral abilities

Progressively worsens with age

Memory loss, difficulty sleeping, uncontrollable behavior, confusion

Cannot be cured, prevented, or slowed

Affects 5.4 million people in US 6th leading cause of death in US 3rd costliest disease in US for healthcare costs

Fornix◦Memory

Frontal lobe◦Behavior and cognition

Junctions of cognition, behavior, and memory pathways◦ To reduce impact of plaques

Few tests thus far, but promising results Find certain letters/shapes among many on paper◦With pacemaker off, found a couple◦After period of constant stimulation, found 30

Pilot trial of 6 patients in Canada◦After year of continuous stimulation:

improved memory Significantly more brain activity

Normal risks of brain surgery

Complications if parts break or move around

Dizziness, speech or vision issues, others◦ Potentially reversible

Treatment of AD with DBS may cost $50-100k for insurance◦May come down by time treatment is available

Current drugs have been ineffective

DBS could help people with early-stage or mild AD◦Much of connectivity remains

Potential for reviving circuitry in the brain provides hope amidst the Alzheimer’s epidemic

Alzheimer's Association. 2012 Alzheimer's disease facts and figures. Alzheimer's and Dementia: The Journal of the Alzheimer's Association. March 2012; 8:131–168.

“Alzheimer’s disease.” A.D.A.M. Medical Encyclopedia. U.S. National Library of Medicine, 26 Sept. 2011 <http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0001767/>

“Deep Brain Stimulation.” CNS Diseases. 2013 <http://cnsdiseases.com/deep-brain-stimulation> “Deep brain stimulation.” MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. U.S National Library of Medicine. U.S.

National Library of Medicine, 27 Feb. 2013 <http://www.nlm.nih. gov/medlineplus/ency/article/007453.htm>

“Deep brain stimulation.” Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation, 03 Jan. 2013 http://en.wikipedia. org/wiki/Deep_brain_stimulation>

“Electric brain stimulation may treat Alzheimer's.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 21 Jan. 2013 <http://www.cbsnews.com/ 8301-204_162-57564987/electric-brain-stimulation-may-treat-alzheimers/>

“Ohio State Implants First Brain Pacemaker To Treat Alzheimer's.” The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, 22 Jan. 2013 <http://medicalcenter.osu.edu/mediaroom/releases/Pages/Ohio-State-Implants-First-Brain-Pacemaker-To-Treat-Alzheimer's.aspx>

“Pacemaker-like device studied in Alzheimer's treatment.” CBSNews. CBS Interactive, 6 Dec. 2012 <http://www.cbsnews.com/ video/watch/?id=50136498n>