Articles tagged with Memory Disorders
New research reveals the brain is a co-operative continuum for learning and memory, with different regions working together to reduce ambiguity. This understanding could lead to new treatments for cognitive diseases like Alzheimer's, where interference may be the cause of memory loss rather than forgetting.
A Penn study found that acetyl-CoA synthetase 2 (ACSS2) regulates gene expression in neurons to form and store spatial memories. Blocking ACSS2 impairs long-term memory, suggesting a potential target for neurological disorders like anxiety and depression.
Exposure to common anesthesia drug sevoflurane in infancy results in visual recognition memory impairment, which emerges after the first year of life and may persist long-term. Researchers used a rhesus monkey model to investigate the effects of repeated anesthesia exposure on neurocognitive function.
Researchers discovered brain structure changes in older adults without noticeable memory problems, using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment test. These findings suggest that brain imaging may predict dementia years prior to diagnosis.
A gene mutation called the Met allele may accelerate memory and thinking skills decline in people at risk for Alzheimer's disease, according to a study published in Neurology. Researchers found that individuals with the mutation lost cognitive skills more rapidly than those without it.
A study by Christian König and Ayse Yarali found that fruit flies generalize their memories of an electric shock to a range of similar scents, mirroring the behavior of PTSD sufferers. This ability can be beneficial but also detrimental if overgeneralized.
A study in rats found that resistance exercise improved motor coordination and memory impaired by MSG, with recognition memory improving in males and location memory in females. Researchers aim to understand the mechanism of this improvement.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have shown that electrical stimulation delivered when memory is predicted to fail can improve memory function. The study found that stimulating the brain during periods of poor function significantly improves memory, likening it to restoring normal traffic flow.
Researchers at UC Berkeley argue that restorative deep sleep is vital for warding off memory loss and a range of mental and physical disorders in older adults. The aging brain's decline in slow wave sleep and neurochemical regulation can lead to cognitive and physical impairments.
Researchers found that SuperAgers' brains shrink more slowly than peers', resulting in greater resistance to memory loss and dementia. The study suggests that age-related cognitive decline is not inevitable, contradicting traditional approaches to Alzheimer's research.
Researchers found that cognitively average elderly adults experienced greater annual whole-brain cortical volume loss compared to SuperAgers. Despite this, SuperAgers showed signs of slower brain atrophy over an 18-month period, with potential implications for understanding cognitive decline and age-related brain changes.
A new study found that playing a highly visual-spatial computer game like Tetris can help prevent intrusive memories after a traumatic event. The intervention, which took just 20 minutes, reduced symptoms of acute stress disorder and post-traumatic stress disorder by 62% in patients waiting for emergency care.
Researchers identify Ephexin5 as a key regulator of brain cell connections in Alzheimer's disease, finding that removing the protein prevents deficits in animal models. By targeting Ephexin5, drugs may be developed to prevent or treat symptoms of the disorder.
Researchers found that probiotics had little impact on microbial diversity and even impaired recognition memory in rats on a balanced diet. However, for rats fed a junk diet, probiotics positively changed the bacterial make-up in their digestive tract and benefitted brain function, preventing spatial memory loss.
After 40 days of daily training using a strategic memory improvement technique, individuals with typical memory skills more than doubled their memory capacity. Brain scans showed altered brain functions and similar connectivity patterns as those of world champion memory athletes. Four months later, recall performance remained high.
A new study from Northwestern University finds that sound wave stimulation synchronized to brain waves triples memory scores in older adults and enhances deep sleep. The technique, which uses real-time brain wave analysis, shows promise as a non-meditation approach to improving brain health.
A recent review highlights cannabidiol's effects on fear and drug memory processes, suggesting its potential as a treatment for anxiety-related and substance abuse disorders. Cannabidiol is not linked to the cannabis 'high' and may alleviate symptoms without unwanted side effects.
Scientists discovered specific brain signals associated with fearful experiences in rat brains, allowing them to predict location-based avoidance. The study suggests a potential mechanism for understanding memory loss in Alzheimer's disease.
AVN-322 is a highly selective 5-HT6R antagonist that displays high binding affinity to the receptor and potency in blocking functional cell responses. In preclinical studies, AVN-322 showed improved cognition-enhancing effects and demonstrated antipsychotic potential.
A team of scientists led by Anandasankar Ray have identified Histone Deacetylase Inhibitor 6 (HDAC6) as a regulator of learning in fruit flies. The enzyme acts like a 'dimmer switch' to increase or decrease signal across synapses, and its role in healthy neurons is less understood.
A pilot study conducted by the University of California, Los Angeles, has shown that consuming grapes twice a day for six months can prevent metabolic decline in Alzheimer-related areas of the brain. Participants who followed a grape-enriched diet demonstrated improved attention and memory performance compared to those on a placebo diet.
A new study by Temple University researchers links glucose deprivation in the brain to cognitive decline and memory impairment in Alzheimer's disease. The study identified p38 as a potential drug target, which could alleviate memory impairments caused by glucose deprivation.
Researchers found that myokines enhance human cognitive function, plan to use this feature to correct conditions such as autism and memory disorders without medication. They conducted comprehensive studies involving volunteers and animals, including mice, to investigate the production of myokines.
Researchers identified specific neural pathways controlling temporal and spatial aspects of episodic memory in rats, revealing the brain's intricate communication between regions.
Scientists at Northwestern University used non-invasive brain stimulation to target specific memory networks, enhancing spatial precision and retention. The treatment showed lasting benefits of up to 24 hours, outperforming previous studies on short-lived effects.
Researchers have found that women's mental sharpness starts to decline as early as their 50s, with an average decline of 5% over 10 years. Cognitive processing speed and verbal memory also show significant declines, highlighting the importance of menopause transition in understanding cognitive changes.
Researchers found that older, fitter adults outperformed younger counterparts in memory tasks, with increased brain activity observed in regions typically declining with age. This suggests that cardiorespiratory fitness may contribute to brain maintenance and serve a compensatory role in age-related memory decline.
Researchers used mouse models to show that chicoric acid mitigates lipopolysaccharide-induced amyloidogenesis and memory impairment by inhibiting the NFκB signal pathway. Chicoric acid supplementation might be a plausible therapeutic intervention for neuroinflammation-related diseases.
Researchers at Johns Hopkins found that alcohol strengthens emotional memories associated with fearful experiences and prevents mice from pushing aside their fears. The study identified the molecular mechanism responsible for alcohol-related fear relapses and used a drug to reverse its effects.
Rutgers scientists have discovered a protein (CRTC1) that enhances memory by controlling gene expression in the hippocampus, a brain area responsible for learning and memory. The research found that mice with higher CRTC1 activity had better long-term memory and exhibited stronger gene transcription.
A new study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that a high-cholesterol diet or frequent consumption of eggs do not increase the risk of memory disorders. In fact, egg consumption was associated with better cognitive performance in certain tests.
A low-carbohydrate ketogenic diet has been shown to alleviate symptoms of a rare inherited intellectual disability in mice genetically engineered with a Kabuki syndrome-like condition. The study suggests that correcting an imbalance in chromatin's open and closed states may improve mental function, offering new hope for treatment.
A study by the University of Zurich found that sleep after a traumatic event can significantly reduce recurring emotional memories and distress. This non-invasive approach may provide an important early prevention strategy for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD).
Researchers found that moderate exercise improved spatial memory impairments in type 2 diabetic rats, possibly due to increased lactate levels and normalization of glycogen levels. Exercise also normalized MCT2 expression, which may be a key mechanism underlying the improved memory function.
A recent study published in Neuron found that deep brain stimulation did not improve memory performance, with a range of impairment from 5% to 20%. However, the researchers suggest that a different stimulation protocol may be necessary to boost memory.
Researchers found stressed individuals who used 'retrieval practice' technique outperformed non-stressed individuals, regardless of whether they restedudied or not. The study suggests that effective learning strategies can build stress-resistant memories, contradicting the common notion that stress impairs memory retrieval.
A new study led by Indiana University researcher Susan Pressler will examine the impact of computerized cognitive training exercises on heart failure patients with memory loss. The study aims to determine if brain training programs, such as BrainHQ, can improve memory and quality of life for these patients.
Researchers found that cannabinoids inhibit neurotransmitter release and reduce mitochondrial energy, leading to memory loss. The study suggests a new therapeutic approach by targeting specific CB1 receptors in the brain.
Researchers found specific changes in memory function that correspond to sex and menopausal stage, implicating key areas of the brain vulnerable to age-related decline. Hormone measurements revealed higher estradiol levels correlate with better memory performance in women.
A new study published in Neurology found that people with thinking and memory problems who lack shrinkage in the hippocampus area of the brain are more likely to develop dementia with Lewy bodies. This finding could help doctors identify patients at risk for the disease and provide early treatment.
Researchers at Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research used precise genetic tools to track neurophysiological deficits resulting from Rett Syndrome. They found that recombinant human Insulin Like Growth Factor 1 (rhIGF1) and bumetanide can reverse such deficits in a cell-type specific manner.
Dr. Erica Weber at Kessler Foundation has received a $70,000 Merit Award to fund her research on strategies to improve prospective memory in individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI). Her work aims to help people with TBI remember to perform tasks in the future using self-generation techniques.
Depression affects the lateral orbitofrontal cortex, leading to feelings of loss and disappointment. Reduced connectivity between reward and memory systems may also contribute to negative thoughts. The study provides new insights into depression's root cause, potentially leading to breakthroughs in treatment.
Researchers found that the cutting of tau by caspase-2 may play a critical role in the disordered brain circuit function of tauopathies. Blocking caspase-2 activity restored some learning and memory deficits in animal models, suggesting reversible cognitive loss.
Researchers found that administering spermidine can prevent age-induced memory impairment by stopping synapses from narrowing their operational space. This study provides a new lead for treating age-associated dementia.
Researchers at Harvard Medical School found that selectively overexpressing a transcription factor, Klf9, in older neurons increased the survival of new neurons and improved pattern separation. This led to more precise and stronger memories in mice with increased neurogenesis, particularly in middle age and aging.
A study found that caffeine and its analogues restore memory deficits by addressing abnormal stress response mechanisms in the brain. Researchers normalized aging-like profiles in rats, reversing memory impairments linked to increased stress hormones.
Scientists have identified the β2 subunit of nicotinic receptors as a direct target of soluble amyloid beta peptide, which builds up in the brain and leads to Alzheimer's disease. Blocking this receptor prevents memory loss and cognitive decline in mouse models.
Researchers found that blocking calcium entry into mitochondria impaired memory, but allowed for learning in fruit flies. The study suggests a developmental role for mitochondrial calcium uniporter complex in regulating adult memory.
Researchers at Uppsala University have shown that disrupting fear-memories can improve exposure therapy for arachnophobia. This method, known as reconsolidation disruption, makes the memory unstable and then saves it in a weakened form.
Researchers at the University of Nottingham found that faulty inhibitory neurotransmission and excessive activity in the hippocampus impair memory and attention. The study highlights the importance of well-balanced neural activity within brain regions, suggesting that both too much and too little activity can cause impairments.
Researchers discover that five hours of sleep deprivation leads to a loss of connectivity between neurons in the hippocampus, a region associated with learning and memory. However, blocking the protein cofilin and allowing recovery sleep restores neuronal connections and improves memory processes.
Research reveals that a brief period of stress can cause the hippocampus to start shrinking, which precedes the onset of memory loss. The study found that stressed rats performed poorly in memory tests compared to unstressed rats, with individual differences in brain shrinkage predicting worse performance.
Researchers found that older adults with memory deficits selectively recalled positive information, while high-performers retained neutral material. The test could potentially detect Alzheimer's susceptibility in early stages.
Researchers found that a Western diet impairs the ability to inhibit memories of palatable foods, making it harder to resist treats even when full. This link between dietary habits and brain function could explain why some people develop persistent desires for snacks leading to obesity.
New studies suggest functional brain scans can help predict recovery and guide treatment for stroke patients. The severity of a person's disability correlates with the extent of disruption to their brain's communication networks, which are not measured by most brain scans.
A new study by Northwestern University finds that moderate-to-vigorous physical activity is associated with improved subjective memory in breast cancer survivors. Higher levels of physical activity are linked to lower distress, less fatigue, and higher self-confidence, which in turn aids memory.
Researchers found that a genetic risk score was associated with worse memory and smaller hippocampus volume in healthy younger participants. A higher polygenic risk score was linked to greater longitudinal memory and executive function decline and clinical progression of the disease.
Scientists have successfully erased unpleasant memories in mice by switching off a single gene. The study reveals that deactivating neuroplastin, a key player in brain plasticity, impairs learning and memory processes. This breakthrough has potential implications for treating memory disorders such as dementia and schizophrenia.
A European study led by Umea University Professor Lars Nyberg found a positive link between the dopamine D2 receptor and long-term episodic memory, which often declines with age. The research suggests that impairment of the dopamine system may play a crucial role in understanding age-related cognitive decline.