Fornical Closed-Loop Stimulation for Alzheimer's Disease

Trends Neurosci. 2018 Jul;41(7):418-428. doi: 10.1016/j.tins.2018.03.015. Epub 2018 May 4.

Abstract

Pharmacological neuromodulation strategies have shown limited efficacy in treating memory deficits related to Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite encouraging results from a few preclinical studies, clinical trials investigating open-loop deep brain stimulation (DBS) for AD have not been successful. Recent refinements in understanding the various phases of memory processes, animal studies investigating phase-specific modulation of hippocampal activity during memorization, and clinical studies using closed-loop DBS strategies to treat patients with movement disorders, all point to the need to investigate closed-loop fornical DBS strategies to better understand memory dynamics and potentially treat memory deficits in AD preclinical models.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; closed-loop; deep brain stimulation; fornix.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease / physiopathology
  • Alzheimer Disease / therapy*
  • Animals
  • Deep Brain Stimulation / methods*
  • Fornix, Brain* / physiopathology
  • Humans