Articles tagged with Memory Disorders
A preclinical study suggests that abnormal immune activity in astrocytes is sufficient to cause cognitive deficits in dementia. Astrocytes produce excessive immune messengers, activating neurons and leading to hyperactivity.
Researchers have identified a subset of neurons in the mammillary body that are most susceptible to neurodegeneration and hyperactivity in Alzheimer's disease. These findings suggest that this region may contribute to early symptoms of the disease, making it a potential target for new drugs.
Researchers at MIT have found a way to reverse neurodegeneration and symptoms of Alzheimer's disease by interfering with an overactive brain enzyme called CDK5. The peptide treatment reduced neurodegeneration, DNA damage, and improved behavior in mice with Alzheimer's.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki discovered a potential treatment for Alzheimer's disease and frontotemporal dementia using a PREP inhibitor. The PREP inhibitor reduced Tau accumulation and toxicity in cellular models and mice with tauopathy, improving cognitive skills.
A Yale School of Public Health study found that older persons with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) who adopted positive age beliefs were 30% more likely to regain normal cognition compared to those with negative beliefs. These positive beliefs also enabled participants to recover their cognition up to two years earlier.
A recent Brazilian study found that the Spike protein from SARS-CoV-2 is implicated in post-COVID-19 memory loss, with researchers identifying TLR4 receptor as a potential therapeutic target. The study involved experiments with mice and showed that infusion of the Spike protein induced delayed memory impairment.
A new study identifies the anterior thalamus as a key brain region linking short-term to long-term memory. The thalamus plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, stabilizing memories from the hippocampus into long-term storage in the cortex.
Researchers identified a crucial molecular process involving gene expression in neurons that contributes to early memory loss and Alzheimer's disease. Genetic alterations in mice showed that lack of phosphorylation on beta-2 adrenergic receptors led to poor memory, while PDE inhibitors improved memory function.
A recent renaissance in psychedelic research investigates the cognitive effects of these drugs, shifting from mathematical modeling to behavioral and clinical studies. Studies have found that psychedelics can increase spontaneous creative insights while decreasing task-specific creativity, as well as affect memories in a malleable way.
High blood pressure damages specific brain regions, including the putamen and white matter areas, leading to cognitive decline and increased risk of dementia. The study uses a combination of MRI, genetic analyses, and observational data to identify these affected regions.
Scientists have identified distinct mechanisms by which people remove information from their working memory and found that forgetting requires much effort. They also discovered four brain networks that activate when memories are maintained or purged through different mechanisms.
Researchers found that women with multiple sclerosis were more likely to report sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and sleepiness. Insomnia mediated more than 10% of the cognitive problems reported by women with MS, while sleep apnea accounted for 34%.
Researchers from Dartmouth and University Medicine Essen found that strong links between brain measures and traits can be obtained when machine learning algorithms are utilized. This approach allows for high-powered results from moderate sample sizes, opening up studies of many traits and clinical conditions previously inaccessible.
A Dartmouth study found that COVID-19 can cause 'prosopagnosia,' or face blindness, and impairments in navigational abilities. Researchers worked with a patient who experienced difficulty recognizing faces and navigating, leading to dissociation between face recognition and cognitive map representation.
A University of California, Riverside study found that people's memories for celebrity faces are sharper but less accurate than those for non-celebrity faces. This 'variance-bias tradeoff' suggests that humans prioritize precision over accuracy to accommodate the natural variability in face recognition.
Researchers found that suppressing AMPKα1 but not AMPKα2 isoforms improved aging-related impairments in mice. The study revealed novel insights into the roles of AMPK signaling pathway in cognitive aging.
Researchers will use data from New IDEAS study to enroll a representative population of patients with memory impairment and their family members. The goal is to better understand the psychological impact of receiving biomarker-informed diagnoses and inform best practices in diagnostic evaluation.
Researchers discovered that administration of GDF11 improves cognitive abilities and reduces depression-like behaviors in aged mice. In humans, low levels of GDF11 are associated with depressive episodes, suggesting a potential link between the protein and mood disorders.
A long-term study found that regular leisure time physical activity at any age is associated with better brain function in later life. Maintaining an exercise routine throughout adulthood was particularly beneficial for preserving mental acuity and memory. The study, which included over 1,400 participants, showed that being physically ...
Researchers found a significant link between chronic pain and dementia, with multisite chronic pain increasing the risk of neurocognitive abnormality by up to eight years.
Research found that patients with poorer memory, concentration, anxiety, and depressive symptoms after a stroke are more likely to be fatigued and sleepy. This study highlights the importance of monitoring cognitive and emotional issues in stroke patients to prevent long-term fatigue and improved diagnostics and treatment.
Researchers use movie clips to study mouse brain activity, revealing novel ways to diagnose learning and memory disorders. The discovery points to new ways to tackle Alzheimer's and improve artificial intelligence.
Researchers found that social isolation triggers astrocyte-mediated deficits in learning and memory due to hyperactive astrocytes suppressing brain circuit function. Inhibiting astrocyte hyperactivity reversed cognitive deficits, suggesting a new role for astrocytes in brain physiology.
Researchers at Kessler Foundation are conducting a double-blind randomized clinical trial to evaluate the impact of their strategy-based cognitive training program on new learning and memory in individuals with multiple sclerosis. The study aims to assess the efficacy of this protocol, which is based on the KF-STEM protocol.
An international task force led by UNIGE and HUG has developed a preventive protocol to address the growing number of people affected by Alzheimer's disease. The guidelines focus on four pillars: risk assessment, risk communication, risk reduction, and cognitive enhancement.
Researchers developed a blood-based test that predicts Alzheimer's disease risk by analyzing changes in brain cell growth and division. The study found that the body's circulatory system can modulate the formation of new brain cells, and that this process occurs 3.5 years before a clinical diagnosis.
A decade-long study found that a healthy lifestyle, including a healthy diet, regular exercise, and cognitive activity, slows memory decline in older adults. Participants with the APOE gene, associated with Alzheimer's disease, also experienced slower memory loss.
A new study led by the University of California San Diego found that daily walking and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity significantly reduced the risk of developing mild cognitive impairment or dementia in senior women. With each additional 1,865 steps per day, the risk was lowered by 33%, while moderate-to-vigorous physical acti...
Columbia Engineering neuroscientists identified a specific neural mechanism in the human brain that enhances memory for emotional events. High-frequency brain waves in the amygdala and hippocampus are critical to this process, and disruptions can impair memory specifically for emotional stimuli.
Researchers developed HippoCamera, a new smartphone app that significantly improves memory recall by boosting attention to daily events. Users record videos and audio descriptions of everyday experiences, which are then replayed to reinforce memory consolidation.
A new study identifies a protein called GFAP as a possible biomarker for very early stages of Alzheimer's disease, which can be detected ten years before symptoms arise. This breakthrough discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of the disease.
Researchers have discovered a human-approved medication that can bring back 'lost' memories in mice, suggesting a potential new approach to treating age-induced memory problems or early-stage Alzheimer's disease. The study used optogenetic approaches and the asthma drug roflumilast to revive memories stored in the hippocampus.
A recent study found that middle-aged individuals with more psychological symptoms are at a higher risk of developing dementia later in life. The study, which included data from over 68,000 Finns, suggests that symptoms of depression, exhaustion, and nervousness can increase the risk of dementia even as early as age 45.
Researchers found that neurons in the hippocampus represent space in a nonlinear hyperbolic geometry that grows outward exponentially with time spent exploring an environment. This discovery provides valuable methods for analyzing data on neurocognitive disorders involving learning and memory.
Researchers found that remote fear memories are permanently stored in connections between memory neurons in the prefrontal cortex. The study suggests that a dysregulation of fear memory consolidation can lead to chronic maladaptive fear in PTSD, affecting about 6% of the population.
A new study reveals that almost a third of long Covid patients suffer from persistent smell loss, with nearly a fifth experiencing loss of taste. The condition can significantly impact daily life, relationships, and overall well-being.
Researchers at the University of Bonn discovered that people with chronic epilepsy may have impaired dendritic integration, leading to less specific place cell firing and reduced ability to distinguish familiar from unfamiliar places. Administering a sodium ion channel inhibitor improved memory in animal models.
A new neuronal cell-based reporter system has been developed to identify compounds that inhibit histone deacetylase 2 (HDAC2) with minimal effect on its partner enzyme HDAC1. This innovation holds promise for dementia drug development by targeting the root cause of memory impairment.
A study followed over 7,000 Canadians for three years to find that being female, physically active, and not obese were key to maintaining excellent health. Factors such as high income and social support also played a crucial role in optimal aging.
Scientists at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center discovered gene usage similarities between COVID-19 patients' brains and aging brains. This study suggests a link between severe COVID-19 and accelerated brain aging, with potential implications for neurological follow-up in recovered individuals.
A Finnish study found that cumulative adverse psychosocial factors in childhood are associated with poorer learning and memory in midlife. Specifically, poor self-regulatory behavior and social adjustment in childhood linked to poorer learning ability and memory decades later.
A recent study found that individuals with higher intake of flavonols, found in fruits, vegetables, tea, and wine, experienced slower rates of cognitive decline. The study's authors suggest that the antioxidant properties of flavonols may contribute to this effect.
A new study found that eligible older adults who participate in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) have slower memory decline than those who do not participate. Researchers measured memory function every two years over 20 years and found that SNAP users had about two fewer years of cognitive aging over a 10-year period.
Researchers at Eötvös Loránd University developed two tests to assess age-related memory performance and neophobia differences in dogs. The memory test found that older dogs make more mistakes before finding food, while the novel object test revealed an increased tendency to avoid new objects with age.
A study by Ural Federal University found that daytime naps and wakefulness both reinforce the formation of fear memories in response to emotional trauma. This research has significant implications for developing strategies for rehabilitating individuals with anxiety disorders.
Research suggests that glial cells in the cerebellum 'eat' neighboring neuronal elements to improve synaptic efficiency during motor learning. This process, known as phagocytosis, is enhanced during learning and memory tasks, leading to improved neural function.
A new study published in NEJM Evidence found that crossword puzzle training significantly improved cognitive function and daily activities, reducing brain shrinkage in individuals with mild cognitive impairment. The findings suggest that engaging with familiar activities like crossword puzzles may be more effective than computerized co...
Researchers aim to identify electrical activity in brain consolidation and test targeted brain stimulation to strengthen memories. The study could advance understanding of neural mechanisms involved in memory formation, potentially benefiting people with Alzheimer's disease.
A novel oxytocin derivative, PAS-CPPs-oxytocin, has been shown to improve cognitive function in mice with Alzheimer's-like symptoms. The derivative is delivered via intranasal administration and shows increased brain penetration compared to traditional intracerebroventricular delivery.
Researchers identified a kinase molecule that directs microglia activity, potentially treating neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's and MS. The molecule, called spleen tyrosine kinase, targets plaque buildup and debris accumulation in the brain.
A recent study analyzed the records of over 33,000 dementia patients in Wales and found that those closest to their diagnosis were taking an average of three or more medications. This suggests a possible link between polypharmacy and the development of dementia.
The Northern New Jersey Traumatic Brain Injury System will provide ongoing care and research, aiming to improve learning and memory impairment in TBI patients. The system's site-specific study will examine the impact of aerobic exercise training on managing new learning and memory impairment.
A new study found that fewer Asian, Black, and Hispanic patients qualify for anti-amyloid monoclonal antibody treatments, which may slow Alzheimer's progression. The treatment's effectiveness depends on the presence of amyloid plaques, with lower incidence in minorities.
Researchers at Boston University have found a way to manipulate emotional memories using optogenetics, allowing them to rewrite and reduce the potency of negative memories. The study reveals that positive and negative memories are stored in distinct regions of the brain and communicate through different pathways.
A study of 226 Alzheimer's family caregivers found that 61.5% experienced depressive symptoms at diagnosis, with 1 in 3 showing worsening symptoms over five years. The risk was not linked to disease severity or individual backgrounds.
A study found that aberrant expression of MAO-B causes both peripheral and neuroinflammation in RA patients, leading to joint pain and cognitive impairment. Administering an MAO-B inhibitor called KDS2010 improved both joint inflammation and cognitive function in a RA animal model.
New research shows that COVID-19 infections can lead to a range of neurological complications in the first year after infection, including strokes, cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, and migraine headaches. The study analyzed over 14 million medical records and found that COVID-19 survivors were at increased risk of developing the...
Researchers at Linköping University discovered a biological mechanism that increases the strength of fear memories stored in the brain. This finding provides new knowledge on the mechanisms behind anxiety-related disorders and identifies shared mechanisms with alcohol dependence.
Scientists found that adolescent rats consuming low-calorie sweeteners like saccharin and stevia exhibited long-term impairments in memory. The researchers used real-life conditions and multiple low-calorie sweeteners to determine the effects on brain function and reward-motivated behavior.
A new study identified a specific enzyme, PDE11A, responsible for memory loss in social interactions with age. By manipulating this enzyme, researchers may develop therapies to prevent or reverse age-related cognitive decline.