Scientists in America have paved the way for innovative treatments for those with neurodegenerative diseases.
According to a project conducted at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, reversing the effects of Alzheimer's and similar diseases may be as simple as offering tailored sensory stimuli.
Indeed, they believe that the term "memory loss" may be a little misleading, in that the memories are typically recoverable.
"The memories are still there, but they are rendered inaccessible by neural degeneration," said the senior author Li-Huei Tsai, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute researcher at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
Having conducted a series of experiments on mice, the researchers concluded that a more stimulating environment can prove absolutely critical when asking the brain to recover from neuron damage.
"I believe that these findings could have particular significance for treatment of people who already have advanced neurodegenerative disease," said Professor Tsai.
"Most current treatments seem to be aimed at affecting the early stages of the disease. But our mouse model shows that even when there has been a significant loss of neurons, it is still possible to improve learning and memory."
Some of the animals were offered an exercise treadmill and colourful toys and the others were kept in a less stimulating environment. All mice displayed signs of neurodegeneration but the ones kept in the stimulating environment were better able to complete memory tests.
"This recovery of long-term memory was really the most remarkable finding," said Professor Tsai. "It suggests that memories are not really erased in such disorders as Alzheimer's, but that they are rendered inaccessible and can be recovered."
Scientists have long believed that mental stimulation is important for elderly people and particularly those who are exhibiting signs of degeneration. In 2002, for example, neuroscientist Dr Gary Small claimed that everybody should engage in "mental aerobics".
Advocates insist that a daily crossword - or writing with one's weak hand - empowers the brain in the fight against degeneration, allowing it to remain sharp despite the natural effects of ageing.
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