I ran across an interesting article on That’s Fit’s feeds:
Reversing Alzheimer’s memory loss may now be possible
Alzheimer’s is one of the more frightening conditions that can affect as us we age. However, recent research suggests that there’s hope — finding that it may be possible to regain lost memories.
Using both mental stimulation, and a drug that encourages growth of brain nerve cells, scientists have been able to reverse memory loss in mice. The rodents had a condition similar to Alzheimer’s, leading researchers to believe that these methods could also be used in humans that have lost their memory and ability to learn.
While this is exciting news in itself, what’s most interesting, is that the mere possibility of retrieving these memories suggests that they were never “lost” in the first place — but instead rendered inaccessible by brain damage.
Meaning, that with improved technology, the disease may not only be preventable — but also reversible.
Too bad this technology wasn’t around 30 years ago. :(
I’ve had a couple relatives on my mother’s side that had Alzheimer’s. One was a well-to-do aunt who lived in Mtn Brook. She was a sweet lady when I knew her, but that was after the disease had already set in and robbed her of her memories. I’m told that she was “something else” in her younger years. Either way, I was fond of her. She often spoke of her “Disney vacation home” — apparently she and her family had a summer home somewhere in Florida and went to Disney World several times each year. (must be nice!)
Anyways, this article is great news. My family’s medical history is littered with heavy cancer on both sides, add high blood pressure and strokes on my mother’s side, and the slight chance of Alzheimer’s. Hopefully by the time I’m old enough to get it, it may no longer be a threat.
Now, if only we could be so lucky with the cancer thing …
Doc
I hope they make a general memory getter-better solution available. I’m tired of not remembering important people and things. I’d like to forget a lot of silly info (such as how many dents a golf ball has) :)