Scientists from the University of Illinois Chicago found that increasing the production of new neurons in mice with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) rescues the animals’ memory defects.
The study found that new neurons can incorporate into the neural circuits that store memories and restore their normal function, suggesting that boosting neuron production could be a viable strategy to treat AD patients.
New neurons are produced from neural stem cells via a process known as neurogenesis.
Previous studies have shown that neurogenesis is impaired in both AD patients and laboratory mice carrying genetic mutations linked to AD, particularly in a region of the brain called the hippocampus that is crucial for memory acquisition and retrieval.
In the study, the team boosted neurogenesis in AD mice by genetically enhancing the survival of neuronal stem cells.
They found increasing the production of new neurons restored the animals’ performance in two different tests measuring spatial recognition and contextual memory.
Further analyses of the neurons forming the memory-storing circuits revealed that boosting neurogenesis also increases the number of dendritic spines.
The team confirmed the importance of newly formed neurons for memory formation by specifically inactivating them in the brains of AD mice.
This reversed the benefits of boosting neurogenesis, preventing any improvement in the animal’s memory.
This study is the first to show that impairments in hippocampal neurogenesis play a role in the memory deficits linked to AD by decreasing the availability of immature neurons for memory formation
Taken together, the results suggest that augmenting neurogenesis may be of therapeutic value in AD patients.
If you care about Alzheimer’s, please read studies about the root cause of Alzheimer’s disease, and new non-drug treatment could help prevent Alzheimer’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about diet that may help prevent Alzheimer’s, and results showing this promising Alzheimer’s drug may improve memory in normal aging.
The research was published in the Journal of Experimental Medicine and conducted by Professor Orly Lazarov et al.
Copyright © 2022 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
