Aging or impaired brains can once again form lasting memories if an enzyme that applies the brakes too hard on a key gene is lifted, according to University of California, Irvine neurobiologists.
“What we’ve discovered is that if we free up that DNA again, now the aging brain can form long-term memories normally,” said senior author Marcelo Wood, UCI’s Francisco J. Ayala Chair in Neurobiology & Behavior, who will present the findings at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual meeting, in Austin, Texas. “In order to form a long-term memory, you have to turn specific genes on. In most young brains, that happens easily, but as we get older and our brain gets older, we have trouble with that.”
That’s because the 6 feet of DNA spooled tightly into every cell in our bodies has a harder time releasing itself as needed, he explained. Like many body parts, “it’s no longer as flexible as it used to be.” The stiffness in this case is due to a molecular brake pad called histone deacetylase 3, or HDAC3, that has become “overeager” in the aged brain and is compacting the material too hard, blocking the release of a gene called Period1. Removing HDAC3 restores flexibility and allows internal cell machinery to access Period1 to begin forming new memories.
Researchers had previously theorized that the loss of transcription and encoding functions in older brains was due to deteriorating core circadian clocks. But Wood and his team, notably postdoctoral fellow Janine Kwapis, found that the ability to create lasting memories was linked to a different process – the overly aggressive enzyme blocking the release of Period1 – in the same hippocampus region of the brain.
That’s potentially good news for developing treatments. “New drugs targeting HDAC3 could provide an exciting avenue to allow older people to improve memory formation,” Wood said.
Learn more: UCI cracks code to restoring memory creation in older or damaged brains
The Latest on: Memory restoration
[google_news title=”” keyword=”Memory restoration” num_posts=”10″ blurb_length=”0″ show_thumb=”left”]
via Google News
The Latest on: Memory restoration
- How the UAE is safeguarding its history in huge recording driveon April 28, 2024 at 1:15 am
The UAE National Library and Archives Centre for Preservation and Conservation is ensuring the country's past is preserved for the future.Located in Abu Dhabi's Mafraq neighbourhood, the centre is ...
- After Grantsville cemetery headstones vandalized, sculptor offers restorationon April 27, 2024 at 8:32 pm
A sculptor is helping restore what was damaged by vandals in the Grantsville Cemetery when more than a dozen historic headstones destroyed.
- Mt. Zion Chamber celebrates local businesses, future leaderson April 26, 2024 at 9:00 am
MOUNT ZION — The Decatur Family YMCA’s support of the community has earned it Outstanding Business of the Year honors from the Mount Zion Chamber of Commerce.
- Providing Shelter: In Memory of Roy Echols and Jackie Robinsonon April 25, 2024 at 6:35 am
Whitney M. Young Jr. (far right) with Jackie Robinson (left) and Chief Justice Earl Warren (center). Photo credit: Columbia University Office of Public Affairs photograph collection, University ...
- Recoding Voyager 1—NASAs interstellar explorer is finally making senseon April 23, 2024 at 5:26 pm
The Liberty Conservative- Engineers Successfully Restore 1970s-era Computer on NASA’s Voyager 1 Spacecraft After five months of intense troubleshooting, engineers have successfully partially restored ...
- Six million for the waterfronton April 23, 2024 at 1:06 pm
State senator Michelle Hinchey’s successful efforts to include $6 million in the state budget to restoring the creek ...
- The Coming Arab Backlashon April 22, 2024 at 7:23 am
Arab leaders, after all, are among the world’s most experienced practitioners of realpolitik, and they have a record of ignoring their people’s preferences. The protests, although large, have been ...
- 'If not me, then who?': Greensburg helicopter restoration project honors Vietnam War veteranson April 20, 2024 at 4:02 pm
Stephanie Redovan was walking in Lynch Field Park in Greensburg and she noticed the Army helicopter dedicated to a Vietnam War veteran needed some TLC. “The thing that kept echoing in my head was, ‘If ...
- Scholarship for preservation studies awardedon April 19, 2024 at 9:35 pm
Belmont College announced a new scholarship opportunity for Building Preservation/Restoration students. The Senter Scholarship has been established by Director Emeritus Dave and Roberta Mertz in ...
- The Chase House Home of Restoration is saving lives one step at a timeon April 16, 2024 at 10:00 pm
It has been a vision in the making for 10 years, and today Mason Hester is realizing his dream of helping others who have been down the same road he ...
via Bing News