AD/PD 2022 | Potential of DBS as a therapeutic strategy in Alzheimer’s disease

Davide Tampellini, PhD, U1195 INSERM Institute Baulieu, Paris, France, outlines the potential of deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a therapeutic strategy against Alzheimer’s disease. DBS is used to ameliorate tremors and clinical symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease, showing neural protection at a cellular level. For patients with Alzheimer’s disease, a new strategy stimulates the fornix, the major output tract of the hippocampus, involved in memory formation. Early patient data has shown increases in hippocampal volume and glucose metabolism. DBS targeting the fornix is a promising therapeutic strategy, as hypometabolism is an early symptom of neurological disease, when patients are still exhibiting normal cognition. Dr Tampellini says future research will investigate the cellular mechanism resulting in this outcome, potentially developing a pharmacological approach as an alternative to surgery. This interview took place at the AD/PD™ 2022 Conference in Barcelona, Spain.