In order to assist those living with age-related memory loss - including people with Alzheimer鈥檚 disease and dementia - researchers at the University of Toronto have developed digital technology to help people recall and retain their memories for longer periods of time.
鈥淭he HippoCamera is a smartphone-based app that is designed to mimic the function of the Hippocampus, which is a part of the brain that we know is damaged in Alzheimer鈥檚 disease,鈥� said cognitive neuroscientist Morgan Barense on 麻豆传媒 Channel Thursday.
The hippocampus is an area of the brain involved in the creation of memories and is associated with learning and emotions.
鈥淏asic science taught us a lot about how the brain supports memory and also how the brain is affected by Alzheimer鈥檚 disease,鈥� Barense said. 鈥淚n all of our pockets we have an enormous amount of computing power, so we said can we put these two things together?鈥�
Barense said their technology is different from just taking a video on your phone to rewatch later because their app simulates hippocampal replay, mimicking the actual processes the brain uses to learn and recall memories..
Hippocampal replay is when a memory is repeatedly 鈥榖roadcast鈥� to the rest of the brain repeatedly, which stimulates the cortex and causes the memory to be learned and retained.
鈥淚n Alzheimer鈥檚 disease the hippocampus is damaged,鈥� said Barense. 鈥淭he idea being that the HippoCamera could scaffold that [and] could simulate this Hippocampal replay.鈥�
The results have been promising. Their research subjects 鈥� young people, healthy older people and older people starting to show signs of Alzheimer鈥檚 disease 鈥� have shown a 鈥�25 per cent boost in memories鈥� and 鈥渆veryday events [being] recalled for a much longer of time鈥� said Barense.
鈥淲e鈥檙e also finding enhanced brain activity鈥� which is associated with memories that were replayed using the app,鈥� she said.
Barense said researchers plan to roll out the app to people in nursing homes, including individuals who have more severe memory impairments.
