Articles tagged with Memory Disorders
Researchers studied two human volunteers with amnesia who could learn simple object discrimination tasks through repetition and habit learning. The volunteers' ability to select the correct item improved over time, suggesting that humans have a capacity for habit memory that is independent of conscious memorization.
Researchers at the Queensland Brain Institute have identified a key protein involved in regulating emotions and memories. Blocking this protein enhanced connections between cells in the amygdala, potentially leading to novel treatment strategies for anxiety disorders and other mental health conditions.
Researchers at U of MN successfully reversed memory loss in mice with dementia, using a transgene to halt disease progression and even increase tangles. This breakthrough study suggests that reversing effects of memory loss may be possible in humans.
Researchers found that transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is as effective as electro-shock therapy in alleviating severe depression. However, TMS has fewer side effects, particularly memory impairment. Patients treated with TMS showed significant improvement in mood without affecting the hippocampus.
Researchers found that participants with a thicker ventromedial prefrontal cortex (vmPFC) were less anxious when viewing images associated with discomfort, suggesting a protective factor against anxiety disorders. The study's results may inform the development of exposure-based therapies for anxiety disorders.
The Targacept compounds demonstrate a long-lasting effect on cognition by normalizing acetylcholine levels, a key neurotransmitter for cognitive processing. This mechanism of action suggests potential treatment for CNS disorders such as dementia, depression, and pain.
A new study found that ramelteon helped adults with chronic insomnia fall asleep faster and sleep longer, while also demonstrating no abuse potential or behavioral impairment. Ramelteon works by targeting two brain receptors, MT1 and MT2, to regulate the body's circadian rhythms.
A new study found that even short-term chronic alcohol consumption can lead to long-lasting cognitive deficits in mice. Researchers fed mice an alcohol or sucrose diet for eight weeks, followed by a three-week withdrawal period, and found that learning and memory tests showed deficits in all types of tasks.
Researchers found that combining SGS742 with Aricept improves memory in rats by altering gene control machinery involved in long-term memory consolidation. The combination therapy protocol may provide a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease symptoms and improve patient quality of life.
A study by K-State researcher Elizabeth Cady found that familiar songs act as strong memory cues, regardless of whether participants heard the song or saw only the lyrics, photo or title. The study used 124 participants who chose a song from lists of popular music from different periods of their lives.
Studies found that mice conditioned to associate beeps with safety showed reduced 'freeze' responses and increased exploration, suggesting a neural overlap between safety and danger processing. The researchers suggest that targeting these mechanisms could lead to new treatments for psychiatric disorders involving anxiety and addiction.
The American Academy of Neurology presented Leeza Gibbons with the Public Leadership in Neurology Award for her advocacy work on Alzheimer's disease. Her foundation, Leeza's Place, provides community-based locations offering comfort, education, and care to those affected by memory disorders.
Researchers found that a deficiency in growth hormone and IGF-1 reduced cancer and kidney disease risk, but impaired cognitive function and accelerated cartilage degeneration. Lifelong treatment with growth hormone actually increased lifespan by up to 14.6%.
A UCI research team identified beta amyloid accumulation within neurons as the trigger for Alzheimer's memory decline in mice. By clearing away excess beta amyloid, they were able to correct memory impairments. The findings have implications for developing drugs targeting beta amyloid.
The UT Southwestern Medical Center has begun using telemedicine for periodic checkups with Choctaw Nation patients in Oklahoma. This allows doctors to assess disease progression and medication side effects remotely, reducing travel time and increasing convenience.
A study found that rats infected with E. coli as newborns had impaired memory in adult life when exposed to an immune challenge. The researchers suggested that this may be due to altered cytokine production and changes in brain architecture, potentially linking early-life infections to later disease susceptibility.
A study found that healthy older adults with the e-4 allele of the ApoE gene exhibit significantly worse prospective memories, struggling to remember tasks even when instructed to do so. The findings suggest a strong impact of genetic variation on cognitive function and recommend reevaluating the role of ApoE in cognition.
Researchers found that people with higher anxiety tend to react more quickly to fearful faces, indicating heightened emotional vigilance. The study also pinpoints the basolateral region of the amygdala as crucial for unconscious processing of threats.
A recent study identified lemons and lilac as among the top 10 smells that can predict Alzheimer's Disease. The study analyzed smell identification test results from patients with Alzheimer's disease and healthy elderly subjects, revealing a strong link between the inability to identify specific odors and the development of the disease.
Researchers found that brief treatment with rolipram improved memory and cognitive function in both young and older mice, suggesting potential therapeutic benefits. The study also showed that the effects of treatment lasted for at least two months after treatment ended.
Research found that toxic amyloid ß-derived diffusible ligands (ADDLs) specifically attack and disrupt synapses in the brain, leading to memory loss in Alzheimer's patients. Understanding how ADDLs target specific neurons and synapses could lead to new therapeutic drugs capable of reversing memory loss.
A study found that people with multiple sclerosis who took an Alzheimer's medication showed significant improvements in memory and cognitive function compared to those taking a placebo. The treatment had no serious side effects, but its long-term effectiveness remains unknown.
Researchers found that mice with enhanced neuronal excitability outperformed their wild-type counterparts in the Morris water maze, a test for learning and memory. The study suggests that manipulating neuronal excitability and synaptic plasticity may be effective in ameliorating age-related cognitive decline.
Researchers have connected neuregulin-1 and postsynaptic density protein-95 to memory and hearing loss, suggesting that these proteins may play a crucial role in neural development and communication. The study's findings provide new insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying age-related cognitive decline and hearing loss.
A team of researchers from the University of Arizona used fMRI to investigate how brains recognize faces and retrieve associated names. They found that specific areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex, showed activation during 'feeling-of-knowing' states, suggesting additional processes aid in recalling accurate memories.
Recent animal studies suggest that high-fat diets can impair memory and cognitive function, increasing the risk of age-related cognitive impairment. Diets rich in saturated fats and sugar may worsen cognitive losses due to stress and sleep apnea.
A study by Yale University found that estrogen has no impact on memory in mice living in enriched environments, but improves spatial memory in those with standard conditions. The results suggest that estrogen benefits mice from un-stimulating environments more than those raised in stimulating ones.
A recent study published in Epilepsia found that selective amygdalohippocampectomy (SAH) surgery can lead to verbal memory loss in patients, especially those who underwent left temporal lobe surgery. The study revealed that 30% to 50% of patients who underwent SAH on the left side showed no recovery of verbal memory after 12 months.
Scientists have found a new form of long-term memory T cell that can combat leishmaniasis even without the parasite's presence. This discovery may lead to an effective vaccine against this disease and others mediated by immune cells.
Researchers created new memories in subjects and studied their recall in the laboratory using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). They found that recalling autobiographical memories activated similar brain areas as laboratory memories, but also distinct self-referential processing regions. This study provides new insights int...
A UCLA study found that a diet rich in DHA, an omega-3 fatty acid, dramatically reduces the impact of the Alzheimer's gene and prevents synaptic brain damage. Consuming more DHA can be easily controlled through food choices such as fish, eggs, or supplements.
A study of 250 patients aged over 55 will examine whether prescribing GPs a supplement can help those with memory loss. Gingko may slow down dementia's degenerative process through improving blood flow and thinning the blood.
Researchers at Washington University School of Medicine presented multiple studies highlighting the relationship between stress and Alzheimer's disease severity, as well as identifying predictive brain changes. These findings may lead to improved treatments and early detection methods for the devastating disease.
A new Mayo Clinic study finds that CABG surgery is not a risk factor for dementia, but patients may experience cognitive decline due to surgical complications. The study took an innovative approach by starting with dementia cases and comparing them to non-demented control groups.
Researchers are using primate behavioral memory tasks and infrared eye-tracking technology to identify patients with mild cognitive impairment. The study aims to detect impaired memory in humans before major brain damage occurs.
Researchers used MRI to study myelin insulation in brain connections, finding they deteriorate three times faster in older adults with Alzheimer's disease. This breakdown disrupts brain function and leads to cognitive decline.
The new Center will integrate resources between clinical and basic research programs to enhance understanding of dementia, improve diagnostics, and develop new treatments. The Center will focus on both Alzheimer's disease and non-Alzheimer's forms of dementia.
Researchers discover that drugs already being tested for cancer and Huntington's disease may help restore some memory capability to patients with RTS, a heritable disorder characterized by mental and growth retardation. The study found that restoring acetylation activity alleviates memory problems in mutant mice.
Scientists discovered that certain brain systems remain intact in individuals with Alzheimer's disease, enabling the retention of implicit memory capabilities. Structured training programs may be an effective approach to improving cognitive function.
A new study found that the brain's amygdala interacts with memory-related brain regions during emotional memory formation, contributing to its emotional resonance. The researchers discovered a significant correlation between activity in emotion- and memory-related brain regions during emotional memory formation.
Research reveals that autistic children can access and analyze musical details more readily than typically developing children. A subgroup of participants achieved impressive scores, even without prior musical training.
Researchers recorded activity of individual hippocampal neurons as monkeys retrieved well-learned information from memory, finding stronger response to familiar stimuli. The study provides strong evidence for a memory signal specific to well-learned information and may inform treatments for Alzheimer's Disease.
Researchers at UCLA deciphered the mystery of distant memory recall using a three-pronged experiment. They found that the anterior cingulate plays a special role in keeping early memories alive, while kinase II is critically involved in preserving our oldest memories.
A new study demonstrates that donepezil, a drug used to treat Alzheimer's, may also improve memory and cognition in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients. More than 65% of those treated with donepezil reported improved memory, compared to 32% on placebo.
A study published in Neuron found that a lack of RIM1 alpha protein leads to profound deficits in learning and memory, impacting mice with symptoms similar to schizophrenia. The discovery offers insights into the molecular events underlying learning and memory processes.
Researchers found that norepinephrine is critical for retrieving intermediate-term contextual and spatial memories, but not for forming or long-term consolidating emotional memories. The study used mutant mice lacking norepinephrine and rats treated with beta blockers to test this hypothesis.
Researchers discovered that deleting two related genes linked to inherited Alzheimer's disease causes memory loss, nerve cell death, and brain degeneration in mice. The study suggests that blocking the function of these genes may worsen the disease, providing a new perspective on its cause.
A study found that 45 first-year psychology students reported elaborate false memories of a fictional event after being told three stories about their grade-school experiences. The presence of a real class photo doubled the rate of false memories compared to studies without photographs.
Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania have found that 'reconsolidation' of a forgotten memory is not permanent, contradicting previous studies. The study's results challenge existing theories on memory storage and retrieval, suggesting that traumatic memories may be more resilient than previously thought.
A UCI study reveals that newborn neurons in the adult brain mature by growing neural signaling appendages similar to those found in developing brains. This finding may aid in understanding how stem cells can be used to treat neurological diseases.
Researchers at MIT discovered that memories with emotional arousal are remembered by the amygdala, whereas calm memories are processed by the prefrontal cortex. This finding has important implications for understanding how the brain makes memories and may lead to treatments for memory loss and learning impairments.
Researchers discovered that the radish gene encodes a phospholipase-A2 enzyme, which plays a crucial role in anesthesia-resistant memory. The study found this enzyme is also involved in memory formation in chickens and rodents, suggesting a conserved mechanism across animal phyla.
Research found that acetylcholine helps keep old information from interfering with new learning, while anticholinergic medications can impair memory function. The study suggests targeting cognitive 'stress tests' to detect early dementia symptoms and discourages chronic use of medications with anticholinergic effects.
A study of 1,036 individuals from 266 families discovered that genetics significantly impacts memory performance, accounting for up to 80% of the variation. The influence of genes on memory abilities was stronger than previously thought and appears to be relatively unaffected by the presence of Alzheimer's disease.
Researchers discovered that a small mutation in the fragile X gene causes tremors, balance problems, and dementia in older men. Genetic screening is recommended for men with these symptoms, especially those carrying the premutation, to accurately diagnose and treat Fragile X-Associated Tremor/Atxa Syndrome (FXTAS).
Researchers found that unwanted memories can be suppressed using brain areas similar to those used during physical action control. This process reduces hippocampal activity, leading to forgetfulness. The study provides a novel neurobiological model for motivated forgetting, which may demystify how repression occurs.
Researchers at Northwestern University have made a breakthrough in treating Alzheimer's disease by targeting the gene that causes memory loss. The study found that inhibiting an enzyme called BACE1 can prevent memory deficits and brain cell functional abnormalities in laboratory models of Alzheimer's disease.
A recent study using MRI has found significant volume loss in the hippocampus, a key role player in memory functions, among patients with Korsakoff's syndrome and Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests that awareness of these clinical and radiological similarities can aid in early detection of each disorder.
Scientists at the Hebrew University and Max Planck Institute have discovered a gene-based approach to suppressing stress-induced reactions. They developed an 'antisense' agent that neutralizes the production of modified proteins, preventing extreme fright or immobilizing shock reactions associated with traumatic memories.
A small sample of seniors showed significant improvement in decision times, attention focus, and self-reported memories after four weeks of nicotine treatment. The findings suggest that nicotine patches could alleviate 'senior moments' in individuals with mild cognitive impairment.