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Brain takes a beating as arteries age

As humans age, their brains receive increased load from the heart's beating due to stiffening large arteries, causing damage to smallest blood vessels. The hippocampus, crucial for episodic memory, is particularly vulnerable to this increased stress.

SourceUmea University·JournalTrends in Cognitive Sciences·DateAug 20, 2019

Why are we so drawn to places of happy memories?

Researchers identified astrocytic mu-opioid receptors as key to conditioned place preference, a mechanism underlying addictive behaviors. The study found that astrocytic MORs in the hippocampus release glutamates, increasing synaptic transmissions and inducing long-term potentiation, which is responsible for spatial memory acquisition.

SourceInstitute for Basic Science·JournalCell Reports·DateJul 30, 2019

Schizophrenia: Adolescence is the game-changer

Researchers at UNIGE discovered that the development of the hippocampus, responsible for memory and emotions, is severely impacted in adolescence following the onset of psychotic symptoms. The study suggests that a 'second hit' later in development may determine further hippocampal atrophy and psychotic symptom emergence.

SourceUniversité de Genève·JournalMolecular Psychiatry·DateJun 17, 2019

How the olfactory brain affects memory

Researchers found that piriform cortex stimulation triggers synaptic plasticity in the hippocampus, leading to enhanced memory formation. The study provides a theoretical basis for understanding the special role of olfaction in memory formation and retrieval.

SourceRuhr-University Bochum·JournalCerebral Cortex·DateApr 29, 2019

A new study indicates the possibility to monitor the progression of Alzheimer's disease by monitoring major brain antioxidant levels using noninvasive techniques

Researchers have identified glutathione, a key brain antioxidant, as significantly depleted in Alzheimer's patients compared to healthy individuals. Non-invasive imaging techniques revealed that lower levels of this antioxidant are associated with mild cognitive impairment and may hold potential for therapeutic development.

Life is like a box of hippocampal scenes

A neuroimaging study found that the hippocampus responds strongest to event boundaries in everyday experiences, such as films. The researchers discovered a strong match between participants' hippocampal activity and independent observers' identified transition points, varying according to their agreement on these points.

Maps made of nerve cells

A team of researchers at the University of Freiburg has created a new model to explain how the brain stores memories of tangible events. The model is based on an experiment with mice, where they used a virtual environment and recorded the activity of their nerve cells.

SourceUniversity of Freiburg·JournalNature·DateJun 7, 2018

Neurons ripple while brains rest to lock in memories

Researchers from Rice University and Michigan Medicine developed a tool to analyze brain waves during periods of rest. They found that these ripples can be used to reconstruct memories of an environment, even when the animals were not actively exploring. The study provides new insights into how brains sort and store information.

Flu may impact brain health

Research found that flu strains H3N2 and H7N7 caused memory impairments and structural changes in the hippocampus of mice. The infections also activated brain immune cells and altered gene expression, suggesting a potential threat to healthy brain function.