Recent research from Tokyo Medical and Dental University has uncovered a potential new approach to preserving memory and protecting against cognitive decline, a common issue as we age.
The study, led by scientists including Atsuhiko Hattori, focused on melatonin, a hormone known for regulating sleep, and its metabolites—substances that melatonin breaks down into once inside the body.
The researchers found that these metabolites, particularly one called AMK, may help improve memory and shield against cognitive deterioration.
Memory testing in mice often relies on their natural curiosity. When presented with familiar and unfamiliar objects, mice typically spend more time exploring the new, unfamiliar ones.
This behavior indicates that they remember the familiar objects, showcasing their cognitive function. However, as cognitive decline sets in, mice begin to treat all objects as if they are new, suggesting a deterioration in memory—similar to how memory loss can manifest in humans.
In their study, the researchers explored whether melatonin’s metabolites could enhance memory. After familiarizing mice with certain objects, they administered doses of melatonin and its metabolites, including AMK, about an hour later.
The next day, they tested the mice’s memory of these objects. The results were promising: memory significantly improved after treatment, with AMK showing the strongest effect.
The researchers discovered that all three metabolites of melatonin accumulated in the hippocampus, a key area of the brain involved in converting experiences into long-term memories.
Crucially, they also found that if melatonin was prevented from converting into AMK, the positive effects on memory were lost. This suggests that AMK plays a vital role in enhancing memory formation.
What makes these findings particularly exciting is that the benefits were observed across all ages of mice, including older ones. Given that cognitive decline is often associated with aging, the researchers are hopeful that these results could translate to humans as well.
If future studies confirm similar effects in people, AMK could become a valuable tool in reducing the severity of Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), a condition that can sometimes progress to Alzheimer’s disease.
This research, published in the Journal of Pineal Research, opens up new avenues for potentially slowing or even reversing cognitive decline through melatonin’s metabolites.
The prospect of using AMK therapy to support memory and protect against diseases like Alzheimer’s is an encouraging development in the field of cognitive health.
As studies continue, this could one day lead to effective treatments for preserving memory and maintaining cognitive function as we age.
If you care about dementia, please read studies about Vitamin B9 deficiency linked to higher dementia risk, and flavonoid-rich foods could help prevent dementia.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that cranberries could help boost memory, and how alcohol, coffee and tea intake influence cognitive decline.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
