(Q&A — 46:21) Madeline Lancaster, PhD presents her paper as published in the July 10, 2020 issue of Science. [Show ID: 36720]
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A new study has uncovered the role that a specific molecule in the brain plays in maintaining long-term memory.
As you lay your head down to sleep tonight and dream all things weird and wonderful, scientists think your brain is going through a gentle rinse cycle, washing away a day’s worth of toxic by-products in preparation for a new day of thinking ahead.
But the mechanisms behind this neurological cleansing system have yet to be described in detail.
Now researchers from the University of Copenhagen have applied a suite of technologies to map the subtle rise and fall of neurotransmitters, blood volume, and spinal fluid in mice as they go about their day.
Source: PNAS Nexus.
The microbial ecosystems within our mouths may affect our cognitive function as we age, according to a study. Interventions such as prebiotics, including dietary nitrate, have potential for delaying cognitive decline.
About 15% of older adults have mild cognitive impairment, which is the largest risk factor for the development of dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. There is a known association between periodontitis—gum disease—and worsened cognitive function.
The brain tries to repair damage after a stroke by utilizing its own repair cells, which function like skilled craftsmen. However, their efforts are often obstructed by inflammation, according to new research from the University of Southern Denmark and the University.
A new study conducted by researchers from the Department of Molecular Medicine at SDU highlights one of the most severe consequences of stroke: damage to the brain’s “cables”—the nerve fibers—which results in permanent impairments. Based on unique tissue samples from Denmark’s Brain Bank at SDU, the study could pave the way for new treatments to help the brain repair itself.
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In a study published in Cell, a research team led by Zhu Shujia from the Center for Excellence in Brain Science and Intelligence Technology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), along with Li Yang from the Shanghai Institute of Materia Medica of CAS, has dissected the assembly and architecture of endogenous N-methyl-ᴅ-aspartate receptors (eNMDARs) in the adult mammalian cerebral cortex and hippocampus.
Learning and memory are fundamental brain functions that underlie human cognition and perception of the world, which rely on development-and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. NMDA receptors, members of the excitatory ionotropic glutamate receptor family, are essential to these processes.
They regulate the strength of synaptic connections, playing a critical role in advanced brain functions. In higher brain structures involved in cognition, such as the cerebral cortex and hippocampus, they are especially vital for cognitive function.
A new Tulane University study suggests the Mediterranean diet’s brain-boosting benefits may work by changing the balance of bacteria in the gut.
In a study published in Gut Microbes Reports, researchers at Tulane University School of Medicine found that subjects following a Mediterranean diet developed distinctly different gut bacteria patterns compared to those eating a typical Western diet. These bacterial changes correlated with better memory and cognitive performance.
“We’ve known that what we eat affects brain function, but this study explores how that could be happening,” said lead author Rebecca Solch-Ottaiano, Ph.D., neurology research instructor at Tulane’s Clinical Neuroscience Research Center. “Our findings suggest that dietary choices can influence cognitive performance by reshaping the gut microbiome.”
The axon initial segment (AIS) is where nerve signals begin, and its adaptability is key to brain function. Scientists have found that the AIS changes in response to activity levels, helping neurons maintain balance. By using advanced imaging techniques, they have observed these changes live for the first time, deepening our understanding of brain plasticity.
Summary: Delayed rapid eye movement (REM) sleep may be an early indicator of Alzheimer’s disease. Researchers found that participants with delayed REM sleep had higher levels of toxic proteins associated with Alzheimer’s and reduced levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), which supports memory.
Delayed REM sleep disrupts memory consolidation and increases stress hormone levels, which can impair the hippocampus, a critical brain region for learning and memory. The findings emphasize the importance of healthy sleep habits and suggest that treatments targeting sleep patterns may influence Alzheimer’s progression.
