Deep brain stimulation of the nucleus basalis of Meynert in severe Alzheimer’s disease

Background Alzheimer's disease (AD) is increasingly prevalent, leading to severe cognitive decline and a diminished quality of life for patients. Nucleus basalis of Meynert deep brain stimulation (NBM-DBS) is a potential treatment approach. Objective This study aims to assess the efficacy and safety of NBM-DBS for AD patients. Methods We conducted a clinical study involving 6 patients with severe AD who received NBM-DBS. The treatment's safety and efficacy were evaluated using cognitive function tests (Mini-Mental State Examination, Montreal Cognitive Assessment, Alzheimer's Disease Rating Scale- cognitive subscale, Clinical Dementia Rating) and assessments of neuropsychiatric symptoms and sleep disorders (Functional Activity Questionnaire, Functional Independence Measure, Zarit Burden Interview, Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, Neuropsychiatric Inventory, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index). Results NBM-DBS was safe, with no severe adverse events. It improved cognitive functions and self-care abilities without altering the disease's progression. Notably, NBM-DBS significantly alleviated neuropsychiatric symptoms and sleep disturbances. Conclusions NBM-DBS could be a promising therapeutic approach for severe AD, particularly for managing neuropsychiatric symptoms and sleep disorders. Further research is warranted to confirm these preliminary findings.