Cell 177, 256–271, (2019)

Declines in cognition that manifest as working-memory deficits in aging humans can be ameliorated by noninvasive stimulation, as can cognitive deficits in mouse models of Alzheimer’s disease.

Aging is associated with a decline in cognitive function and dementia, and Alzheimer’s disease is a pathological version of this. The understanding of the molecular mechanisms of both of these types of impairment will lead to therapies, particularly much-needed nonpharmacological interventions.

Scientists in Boston, Massachusetts, used electrophysiological measurements to pinpoint the circuits and brain regions involved in working-memory deficits and were able to improve working-memory performance by noninvasive stimulation.

Scientists in Cambridge, Massachusetts, were able to alleviate Alzheimer’s pathology and related cognitive impairments in mouse models of the disease using a noninvasive light-flicker stimulus.

Both studies pave the way for these nonpharmacological approaches for therapies for cognitive decline.