Patients experiencing memory loss could have a new treatment option available that could help restore lost memory function. A recent study, published in Science, shows that magnetic stimulation improves memory.

By using magnetic fields, researchers have demonstrated that the memory of a small group of people could be measurably improved in just 20 minutes. The effect seemed to last around 24 hours, but the results could be the beginning of the development of new treatment options for people with memory loss due to a variety of reasons.

Scientists recruited 16 volunteers between the ages of 21 and 40 to take part in learning exercises. Each participant agreed to undergo 20 minutes of a procedure known as Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) each day for five days. Learning tests involved showing participants pictures of faces while saying aloud unrelated words.

The volunteers showed marked improvement in the learning tests after receiving the TMS treatment. The same effect was not found in either the placebo group or a separate trial conducted, according to lead researcher with the study, Dr. Joel Voss.

TMS is a procedure that works by using stimulation coils to deliver magnetic fields that stimulate specific areas of the brain. In the past, it has been used as a diagnostic tool to test neural connectivity in patients with conditions like strokes, multiple sclerosis and other neurological disorders. Depression has also been treated with some success using this method.

One of the biggest benefits of this type of treatment is the non-invasive nature. Other treatments, such as medication and surgery, have proven far less effective than TMS has shown to be, says Voss. It can be administered without anesthesia and can be delivered in a more comfortable, more controlled manner than electric stimulation.

TMS is still a long way from being understood enough to begin using in clinical settings. Voss said that the procedure could be years away from being ready. Not enough is known about its efficacy and safety to use on the general population just yet. Should the treatment be approved, Voss predicts it could be used to treat people with chronic memory loss, like those who suffer from Alzheimer’s.