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Mild blast injury causes molecular changes in brain akin to Alzheimer, Pitt team says

A multicenter study reveals that mild traumatic brain injury after blast exposure produces inflammation and oxidative stress, similar to disorders of memory processing such as Alzheimer's disease. Gene activity patterns akin to neurodegenerative diseases were also observed in the brains of rats exposed to a shock tube.

Gone, but not forgotten

A team of neuroscientists studied the case of EP, a man with radical memory loss due to viral encephalitis. Unlike HM, who retained some residual tissue, EP's brain damage resulted in total destruction of specific memory-linked structures, rendering him unable to learn new information.

SourceUniversity of California - San Diego·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateApr 22, 2013

Preventing cognitive decline in healthy seniors

A review of 32 randomized controlled trials suggests that mental exercise, such as computerized training programs or intensive one-on-one personal cognitive training, may benefit older adults in preventing cognitive decline. The annual rate of dementia-related cognitive decline is estimated to double to over 1 million Canadians by 2047.

SourceCanadian Medical Association Journal·JournalCanadian Medical Association Journal·DateApr 15, 2013

Scientists identify brain's 'molecular memory switch'

Researchers have identified a key molecule responsible for triggering chemical processes in the brain linked to memory formation. The study found that the gene CASK regulates the 'molecular memory switch', enabling it to remain active even after calcium has gone, paving the way for new therapies to reverse memory loss.

SourceUniversity of Bristol·JournalFrontiers in Neural Circuits·DateMar 28, 2013

Food memories can help with weight loss

A study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition found that recalling recent meals reduces food consumption, while being distracted during eating leads to increased intake. Techniques such as writing down previous meals and using visual reminders can aid in reducing meal sizes.

SourceUniversity of Liverpool·JournalAmerican Journal of Clinical Nutrition·DateMar 18, 2013

Gone but not forgotten: Yearning for lost loved ones linked to altered thinking about the future

A new study published in Clinical Psychological Science found that adults suffering from complicated grief retain their ability to recall specific memories of their past when those events involve the deceased. They often generate impossible future scenarios with the deceased relative to their difficulty imagining a realistic future.

SourceAssociation for Psychological Science·JournalClinical Psychological Science·DateMar 18, 2013

Study in mice yields Angelman advance

A team of scientists at Brown University has made a breakthrough in understanding the neurological signaling breakdown in Angelman syndrome, a disorder affecting thousands of children. They demonstrated how a synthesized compound called CN2097 works to restore neural functions impaired by the disease.

SourceBrown University·JournalPLOS Biology·DateFeb 13, 2013

Finding the way to memory

A new study from McGill University reveals that the DCC receptor is essential for normal synaptic function and plasticity, leading to progressive degeneration of synapses and defects in memory formation. The absence of DCC leads to memory loss similar to Dr. Brenda Milner's famous subject HM.

SourceMcGill University·JournalCell Reports·DateFeb 4, 2013

Research identifies a way to block memories associated with PTSD or drug addiction

Researchers at Western University identified a common mechanism in the pre-limbic cortex to control recall of memories linked to aversive experiences in PTSD and rewarding memories in drug addiction. Stimulating a specific dopamine receptor subtype can prevent spontaneous recall of both types of memories without altering their integrity.

SourceUniversity of Western Ontario·JournalNeuropharmacology·DateDec 5, 2012

The obese brain may thwart weight loss

Research indicates diets high in saturated fat and refined sugar may impair brain function in obese individuals, leading to increased overconsumption of high-calorie foods. Obesity-related changes may also lead to permanent cognitive decline, making it a lifelong battle to maintain weight loss.

SourceAmerican University·JournalPhysiology & Behavior·DateOct 1, 2012

Researchers identify potential treatment for cognitive effects of stress-related disorders

Researchers at Columbia University Irving Medical Center have identified a potential medical treatment for the cognitive effects of stress-related disorders, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The experimental drug S107 prevented learning and memory deficits associated with stress-related disorders in a PTSD mouse model.

Why living in the moment is impossible

A study at the University of Pittsburgh has identified a brain area responsible for using past decisions and outcomes to guide future behavior, suggesting that living in the moment is impossible due to the need for continuity of thought. The frontal eye field and supplementary eye field were found to play key roles in metacognition.

SourceUniversity of Pittsburgh·JournalNeuron·DateAug 9, 2012

Gladstone scientists discover that epilepsy drug reverses memory loss in animal model of AD

Researchers at Gladstone Institutes found that levetiracetam, an FDA-approved anti-epileptic drug, reverses memory loss and alleviates other Alzheimer's-related impairments in mice genetically modified to simulate key aspects of the disease. The study shows how levetiracetam suppresses abnormal brain activity and restores memory function.

SourceGladstone Institutes·JournalProceedings of the National Academy of Sciences·DateAug 6, 2012

The debate over ecstasy continues

A new study published in Addiction journal reveals that even occasional ecstasy use can lead to memory impairments, particularly with damage to the hippocampus. The research found that participants who took ten or more pills over their first year showed decreased function of immediate and short-term memory.

SourceWiley·JournalAddiction·DateJul 25, 2012

Study shows first case of chronic traumatic encephalopathy in blast-exposed military personnel

Researchers have found evidence of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE) in brain tissue from blast-exposed military service personnel. The study discovered that exposure to a single blast equivalent to an IED results in CTE and long-term brain impairments, with the blast wind leading to traumatic brain injury.

SourceBoston University School of Medicine·JournalScience Translational Medicine·DateMay 16, 2012