Magnetic hope for brain conditions
Updated on 23 May 2007
Magnets may offer a way to boost mental performance, new research suggests.
Scientists have shown that stimulating the brains of mice with a magnetic coil promotes the growth of new neurons.
If the effect is confirmed in humans, it could lead to new treatments for age-related memory decline and diseases such as Alzheimer's.
The technique, called Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) has often been used experimentally to probe the workings of the brain and treat certain disorders, including depression and schizophrenia.
TMS induces electric fields in the brain by means of a magnetic coil. These have the effect of activating or de-activating groups of neurons.
The latest research by Dr Fortunato Battaglia and colleagues at the City University of New York involved exposing mice to TMS for five days before examining their brains.
Dr Battaglia's team saw large increases in the proliferation of stem cells - immature cells that go on to develop into nerves and other kinds of tissue - in a part of the brain called the dentate gyrus hippocampus.
These cells, which divide throughout life, are believed to play a crucial role in memory and mood regulation.
New Scientist magazine reported: "Battaglia (et al) think TMS could eventually be used to improve learning and memory in people with age-related memory decline and Alzheimer's - which is associated with a loss of neurons in the hippocampus, among other areas. His team is now running a trial to test this theory."
Professor John Rothwell, a TMS researcher at the Institute of Neurology at University College London, said it was the first time the technique had been shown to promote the growth of neurons. He questioned whether it could stimulate the creation of new neurons elsewhere in the brain. But he believed even without replacing lost neurons, TMS could slow down the progression of diseases such as Alzheimer's. "It may be a way of reinforcing connections that are becoming weaker," he told New Scientist.
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