We all know how important memory is in everyday life—from remembering where we put our keys to learning new things at school or work.
Now, scientists in Japan have discovered that a common sleep hormone called melatonin might also help improve memory.
Melatonin is mostly known for helping people sleep. It’s made by the pineal gland in the brain and helps control our sleep-wake cycle. But new research from Sophia University in Japan shows that melatonin may do more than just help us fall asleep. It might also play a role in how we form long-term memories.
Led by Professor Atsuhiko Chiba, the research team studied three compounds: melatonin, a related chemical called AMK (short for N1-acetyl-5-methoxyquinuramine), and ramelteon, a drug that activates melatonin receptors. They wanted to see how these compounds affect certain proteins in the brain that are linked to memory.
To test their theory, the researchers did a memory experiment using male mice. They used only male mice to avoid the effects of female hormone cycles. The mice were placed in a space with two identical objects to explore.
Then, 24 hours later, they were shown one of the same objects and a new one. Mice tend to explore new things more than old ones—so if they spent more time with the new object, it meant they remembered the old one.
The results were exciting. All three compounds—melatonin, AMK, and ramelteon—helped the mice remember the old object better. This suggests these substances can improve long-term memory in mice.
The researchers then looked inside the mice’s brains, specifically at the hippocampus, which is the brain’s memory center. They found that the memory-boosting compounds changed the activity of two important proteins called ERK and CREB.
These proteins help cells talk to each other and store memories. When these proteins are “phosphorylated”—a type of chemical change—it acts like flipping a switch to turn on memory functions.
The study showed that AMK and ramelteon increased the phosphorylation of these proteins, helping to explain how these substances improve memory. This discovery opens the door to new treatments for people with memory problems, especially those related to aging.
The researchers believe that melatonin and its related compounds could lead to safe and helpful ways to support memory function. While more research is needed, this study gives us a glimpse into how a simple sleep hormone might also become a brain booster.
If you’re interested in improving your sleep and memory, other studies have looked at the best sleep positions to reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s, and natural herbs that may help with sleep. Research also shows that some diets can protect against memory loss and that certain blood pressure medications might also help with dementia.
This study was published in the journal NeuroReport and adds to our growing understanding of how sleep, brain health, and memory are all connected.
If you care about sleep, please read studies that Sleeping pill lowers key Alzheimer’s disease markers and Scientists discover the link between sleep apnea and dementia risk.
For more health information, please read studies that Common sleep supplement could improve memory and Scientists find link between short sleep and higher risk of long COVID.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
