UCLA neuroscientists have demonstrated that they can strengthen memory in human patients by stimulating the entorhinal cortex. in the brain. The finding could lead to a new method for boosting memory in patients with early Alzheimer’s disease.

Considered the doorway to the hippocampus, which helps form and store memories, the entorhinal cortex plays a crucial role in transforming daily experience into lasting memories.

Dr. Itzhak Fried, a professor of neurosurgery at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, and colleagues followed seven epilepsy patients who already had electrodes implanted in their brains to pinpoint the origin of their seizures. The researchers monitored the electrodes to record neuron activity as memories were being formed.

Using a video game, the researchers tested whether deep-brain stimulation of the entorhinal cortex or the hippocampus altered recall. Patients played the role of cab drivers who picked up passengers and traveled across town to deliver them to one of six requested shops.

“When we stimulated the nerve fibers in the patients’ entorhinal cortex during learning, they later recognized landmarks and navigated the routes more quickly,” Fried said. “They even learned to take shortcuts, reflecting improved spatial memory.

The use of stimulation only during the learning phase suggests that patients need not undergo continuous stimulation to boost their memory, but only when they are trying to learn important information, Fried noted. This may lead the way to neuroprosthetic devices that can switch on during specific stages of information processing or daily tasks.

Six million Americans and 30 million people worldwide are diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease each year. The progressive disorder is the sixth leading cause of death in the United States and the fifth leading cause of death for those aged 65 and older.

“Our preliminary results provide evidence supporting a possible mechanism for enhancing memory, particularly as people age or suffer from early dementia,” Fried said. “Future studies will determine whether deep-brain stimulation can enhance other types of recall, such as verbal and autobiographical memories. No adverse effects of the stimulation were reported by the seven patients.”

Ref.: Nanthia Suthana, et al., Memory Enhancement and Deep-Brain Stimulation of the Entorhinal Area, New England Journal of Medicine, 2012; 366 (6): 502 [DOI:10.1056/NEJMoa1107212]