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Direct amygdala stimulation can enhance human memory

Researchers found that direct electrical stimulation of the human amygdala can enhance next-day recognition of images, with a significant boost in memory performance. The study used low-level current and showed an improvement in memory recall for patients with epilepsy and average memory performance.

SourceEmory Health Sciences·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateDec 18, 2017

Restoring aging genes in rats

Researchers found that overexpressing FKBP1b restored gene expression in hippocampal neurons, improving water maze performance and reversing age-related memory impairments in rats. The study suggests addressing FKBP1b deficiency may be a new avenue for countering age-related memory loss.

New research suggests high-intensity exercise boosts memory

Researchers found that six weeks of intense exercise improved high-interference memory, a type of memory that allows us to distinguish between similar objects. Participants who experienced greater fitness gains also showed increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), supporting the growth and function of brain cells.

SourceMcMaster University·JournalJournal of Cognitive Neuroscience·DateNov 22, 2017

New player in Alzheimer's disease pathogenesis identified

A study published in Nature Communications reveals that membralin plays a crucial role in regulating the cell's machinery for producing beta-amyloid, the protein responsible for neuronal death in Alzheimer's disease. The researchers found that membranes with lower levels of this protein are associated with increased neurodegeneration a...

SourceSanford Burnham Prebys·JournalNature Communications·DateNov 14, 2017

From a memory too strong to a memory too weak

Researchers at the University Medical Center Goettingen identified a molecular link between PTSD and Alzheimer's disease, specifically Formin 2. Formin 2 mutant mice show PTSD phenotypes at an early age and develop age-related memory decline.

SourceEMBO·JournalThe EMBO Journal·DateAug 2, 2017

How neurons sense our everyday life

Researchers at King's College London have discovered a molecular mechanism that enables neurons to adapt to their environment, shaping learning and memory formation. The study reveals that Brevican protein plays a critical role in regulating experience-dependent plasticity, influencing the intrinsic properties of PV+ interneurons and s...

SourceKing's College London·JournalNeuron·DateJul 13, 2017

Modeling Gulf War illness: Knowing the cause of brain dysfunction is key to finding a cure

Gulf War veterans experience long-term side effects of their service due to exposure to chemicals like pyridostigmine bromide, DEET, and permethrin. Animal models demonstrate how these chemicals cause brain dysfunction, inflammation, and oxidative stress, leading to symptoms such as cognitive decline, memory problems, and chronic fatigue.

SourceTexas A&M University·JournalFrontiers in Molecular Neuroscience·DateJun 20, 2017

Plant reveals anti-Alzheimer's compounds

Japanese scientists have developed a method to isolate and identify active compounds in plant medicines, which accurately accounts for drug behavior in the body. They identified several active compounds from Drynaria Rhizome that improve memory and reduce disease characteristics in a mouse model of Alzheimer's disease.

SourceFrontiers·JournalFrontiers in Pharmacology·DateJun 20, 2017

Memory loss and other cognitive decline linked to blood vessel disease in the brain

Researchers found strong association between cognitive decline and small blood vessel disease in the brain, with 61% of older adults having at least one component of the condition. The study, part of the Atahualpa Project, suggests that vascular neurology may be an important factor in stroke and neurological disorders in Latin America.

SourceLoyola Medicine·JournalInternational Journal of Geriatric Psychiatry·DateJun 5, 2017

Visual recognition memory impaired after multiple exposures to anesthesia during infancy

A study found that repeated exposure to anesthesia during infancy results in impaired visual recognition memory, which emerges after the first year of life. The research used a rhesus monkey model and confirmed that multiple anesthesia exposures alone lead to memory impairment, with deficits not apparent until later developmental stages.