As the largest resource of information specific to women's brain health, we are sure you will find what you are looking for, and promise that you will discover new information.
Published on: May 11, 2012
by Janice Wood for Psych Central
A study suggests a potential new therapy for improving memory and interrupting the progression of cognitive impairment that often leads to Alzheimer’s disease.
The focus of the study was “excess brain activity” commonly associated with conditions that cause mild cognitive decline and memory loss, and are linked to an increased risk of Alzheimer’s, according to lead author Michela Gallagher, Ph.D., a professor of psychological and brain sciences in the Johns Hopkins University’s Krieger School of Arts and Sciences.
Previously, it had been thought that this hyperactivity in the hippocampus was the brain’s attempt to compensate for a weakness in forming new memories, she said. Instead, the researchers found that this excess activity contributes to conditions such as amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), in which patients’ memories are worse than would be expected in healthy people the same age.
“In the case of aMCI, it has been suggested that the increased hippocampal activation may serve a beneficial function by recruiting additional neural ‘resources’ to compensate for those that are lost,” she said. “However, animal studies have raised the alternative view that this excess activation may be contributing to memory impairment.”
To test how a reduction in that hippocampal activity would affect patients with aMCI, Gallagher’s team administered a low dose of a drug used to treat epilepsy. The goal was to reduce the test subjects’ activity to levels that were similar to those of healthy subjects in a control group.
The researchers used functional magnetic resonance imaging to determine the levels of excess activity, and how much the drug reduced that activity.
The research team found that the subjects who had been treated with an effective dose of the drug did better on a memory task.
According to Gallagher, the increased hippocampal activity observed in conditions that precede Alzheimer’s may be one of the underlying mechanisms contributing to neurodegeneration and memory loss.
Studies have found that if patients with aMCI are followed for a number of years, those with the greatest excess activation have the greatest decline in memory, and are more likely to receive a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s over the next four to six years, she said.
“Apart from a direct role in memory impairment, there is concern that elevated activity in vulnerable neural networks could be causing additional damage and possibly promoting the widespread disease-related degeneration that underlies cognitive decline and the conversion to Alzheimer’s Disease,” Gallagher said.
“Therefore, reducing the elevated activity in the hippocampus may help to restore memory and protect the brain. It will require a carefully monitored, lengthier clinical trial to determine if that is the case.”
The research was published in the May 10 issue of the journal Neuron.
A new study led by researchers at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis suggests that measures of amyloid beta in the blood have the potential to help identify people with altered levels of...
It’s no secret that if you want to keep your mind sharp, it’s worth making some time to workout. Yes, exercise won’t only give you a sexy body. It’ll help get you a sexy brain as well....
Depression is a constant sadness affecting our activity level, behavior, thoughts, feelings, and sense of well-being. Those affected often feel empty and worthless, which could lead to erratic behavior or even suicide. There are numerous...
The material presented through the Think Tank feature on this website is in no way intended to replace professional medical care or attention by a qualified practitioner. WBHI strongly advises all questioners and viewers using this feature with health problems to consult a qualified physician, especially before starting any treatment. The materials provided on this website cannot and should not be used as a basis for diagnosis or choice of treatment. The materials are not exhaustive and cannot always respect all the most recent research in all areas of medicine.
