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Origin of a myth: The second trauma cure for amnesia

Despite medical community's understanding of brain function, the double-trauma amnesia cure belief persisted due to anecdotal evidence and flawed theories. A French scientist named Francois Xavier Bichat proposed the idea that a second blow could restore memories in the late 18th century, but his claims were not backed by specific cases.

SourceDrexel University·JournalNeurology·DateJun 14, 2016

Stave off cognitive decline with seafood

A study published in Neurology found that eating seafood at least once a week can help mitigate age-related cognitive decline. Participants who consumed more seafood showed slower rates of decline in semantic memory and perceptual speed, while those with the APOE-ε4 gene showed an even stronger protective association.

SourceRush University Medical Center·JournalNeurology·DateMay 10, 2016

Sleep changes seen with fetal alcohol exposure partly explain learning and mood problems

A new study suggests that fetal alcohol exposure leads to long-lasting slow-wave sleep fragmentation, which is associated with learning problems and impaired cognitive function. The researchers found that mice exposed to binge amounts of ethanol displayed severe sleep fragmentation, memory impairment, and hyperactivity.

Don't I know that guy?

Johns Hopkins University researchers identified the hippocampus region responsible for distinguishing between familiar and new memories. This finding validates theories about memory processing and may help explain memory impairments in diseases like Alzheimer's, potentially preserving people's memories as they age.

SourceJohns Hopkins University·JournalNeuron·DateAug 19, 2015