Scientists develop an innovative method to stimulate memory in dementia patients through sounds

Scientists develop an innovative method to stimulate memory in dementia patients through sounds
The recent discovery in controlling brain waves during sleep promises a potential revolution in dementia treatment, allowing doctors to modify brain activity non-surgically and less invasively
September 22, 2024, 1:18 am

A recent scientific study conducted by the University of Surrey has revealed the possibility of manipulating brain rhythms during the rapid eye movement (REM) sleep phase, a stage closely associated with memory and cognitive processes.

The innovative technique, which relies on auditory stimuli, allows researchers to accelerate brain activity that is slowed in dementia patients during this rest period.

According to "Neuroscience News", a research team from the University of Surrey, in collaboration with the UK Dementia Research Care and Technology Centre at Imperial College London, used a novel method known as closed-loop auditory stimulation, which targets brain waves during sleep with extreme precision.

Dr. Valeria Jaramillo, a researcher at the Sleep Research Centre and faculty member in the Department of Psychology at the University of Surrey, said: "Brain oscillations play a crucial role in brain performance, learning mechanisms, and information retention. These waves during REM sleep have been proven to be linked to memory functions – although their exact role remains largely unclear."

She added that in cases of dementia, brain activity significantly slows during REM sleep, which is associated with a decline in the ability to recall personal memories and retain information.

Dr. Jaramillo explained that "stimulating brain waves through sounds can increase their frequency, which may contribute to a deeper understanding of how to enhance brain oscillations during REM sleep to improve cognition, and how to improve the quality of this sleep stage in dementia patients."

Professor Dirk Jan Dijk, Director of the Sleep Research Centre at the University of Surrey, head of the UK Dementia Research Institute team and principal investigator of the study, commented: "This discovery may pave the way for a new approach in treating dementia patients. This technique is non-surgical and applied during sleep, which reduces disruption to patients' daily lives and makes therapeutic procedures more targeted and precise."

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