Cerebellar stimulation improves memory in the elderly

Cerebellar stimulation during aging has an impact on improving episodic memory, that is, the ability to recall everyday stories and actions, a study led by the University of Coimbra (UC) found.

The conclusion of this study, coordinated by professor and researcher at the Faculty of Psychology and Educational Sciences of the University of Coimbra, Jorge Almeida, points to the role of this brain region in slowing down the cognitive decline associated with aging. reinforcing the importance of non-drug interventions in this prevention, mentions UC in a press release sent to Lusa today.

The study involved healthy people over 60 years of age who underwent cognitive training and a method of painless stimulation of neurons – direct current transcranial neurostimulation.

The study showed “an improvement in the ability of healthy older adults to remember word lists after just twelve consecutive sessions of cognitive and neural stimulation,” said Jorge Almeida, cited in the same note.

In terms of the improvements shown, “cerebellarly stimulated people were able to recall an average of four more words, for a total of 16, compared with other control groups,” said Proaction Lab director and researcher at the Center for Neuropsychology and Cognitive Behavioral Intervention Research.

The increase in memory was accompanied by “changes at the neuronal level in the connection between areas responsible for memory.”

This means that the “effect of cerebellar stimulation” also “manifested in the neural structures that support episodic memory, strengthening its connections.”

These improvements were recorded immediately after the intervention program, which lasted 12 days, and remained stable in the control conducted four months later.

“These data demonstrate our ability to act in a simple and non-drug way on one of the biggest complaints associated with cognitive decline in older age, our ability to remember things from our daily lives,” he explained. , Jorge Almeida.

The study involved an interdisciplinary and multinational team of psychologists, physicians, and engineers from several universities, namely Coimbra, Harvard, USA, and São Paulo, Brazil.

The study also points to “an updated role for the cerebellum in terms of cognitive processes and brain function that goes beyond the typical association with aspects of motor coordination.”

UC also noted that with increasing life expectancy, the United Nations (UN) estimates that one in six people in the world will be over 65 in 2050.

This demographic projection will pose “tremendous challenges for society, given that aging is strongly associated with cognitive decline, neurodegenerative diseases, and various frailties.”

While episodic memory is likely to be “the biggest casualty of aging-related cognitive decline,” the study authors express “hope for results given the current and future demographic context, and highlight the importance of non-pharmacological interventions for prevention.” and reducing cognitive decline” in the elderly.

A scientific article titled “The cerebellum is causally involved in episodic memory in aging” is available at https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s11357-023-00738-0.