
The findings identify specific receptors for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that re-route information flowing through memory circuits in the hippocampus.
Bristol-led research has identified specific drug targets within the neural circuits that encode memories, paving the way for significant advances in the treatment of a broad spectrum of brain disorders.
Loss of memory is a core feature of many neurological and psychiatric disorders including Alzheimer’s disease and schizophrenia. Current treatment options for memory loss are very limited and the search for safe and effective drug therapies has, until now, had limited success.
The research was done in collaboration with colleagues at the international biopharmaceutical company Sosei Heptares. The findings, published in Nature Communications, identify specific receptors for the neurotransmitter acetylcholine that re-route information flowing through memory circuits in the hippocampus. Acetylcholine is released in the brain during learning and is critical for the acquisition of new memories. Until now, the only effective treatment for the symptoms of cognitive or memory impairment seen in diseases such as Alzheimer’s is using drugs that broadly boost acetylcholine. However, this leads to multiple adverse side effects. The discovery of specific receptor targets that have the potential to provide the positive effects whilst avoiding the negative ones is promising.
Lead author, Professor Jack Mellor, from the University of Bristol’s Centre for Synaptic Plasticity, said: “These findings are about the fundamental processes that occur in the brain during the encoding of memory and how they may be regulated by brain state or drugs targeting specific receptor proteins. In the long-term, the discovery of these specific targets opens up avenues and opportunities for the development of new treatments for the symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease and other conditions with prominent cognitive impairments. The academic-industry partnership is important for these discoveries and we hope to continue working together on these projects.”
Dr Miles Congreve, Chief Scientific Officer at Sosei Heptares, added: “These important studies have helped us to design and select new, exquisitely targeted therapeutic agents that mimic the effects of acetylcholine at specific muscarinic receptors, without triggering the unwanted side effects of earlier and less-well targeted treatments. This approach has the exciting potential to improve memory and cognitive function in patients with Alzheimer’s and other neurological diseases.”
“It is fascinating how the brain prioritises different bits of information, working out what is important to encode in memory and what can be discarded. We know there must be mechanisms to pull out the things that are important to us but we know very little about how these processes work. Our future programme of work aims to reveal how the brain does this using acetylcholine in tandem with other neurotransmitters such as dopamine, serotonin and noradrenaline,” said Professor Mellor.
Original Article: Research reveals drug targets for memory enhancement
More from: University of Bristol
The Latest on: Memory loss treatment
- A new research suggests HIV drug could combat middle-aged memory losson May 28, 2022 at 8:16 am
A team of researchers from the University of California, Los Angeles, have discovered a critical molecular mechanism behind memory linking and found a way to restore this brain function in middle-aged ...
- Man loses memory soon after having sex with wifeon May 28, 2022 at 6:39 am
In a bizarre case, a 66-year-old Irish man lost his memory soon after having sex with his wife and even forgot the wedding anniversary party held a day before. Doctors explain that sex could be a ...
- Alzheimer's treatments: What's on the horizon?on May 28, 2022 at 5:12 am
Current Alzheimer's treatments temporarily improve symptoms of memory loss and problems with thinking and reasoning. These Alzheimer's treatments boost performance of chemicals in the brain that carry ...
- Man Suffers Memory Loss 10 Minutes After Having Sex, Here’s What Transient Global Amnesia Ison May 27, 2022 at 6:45 pm
After having sexual intercourse, the man forgot his wedding anniversary. But not in the way that you might have expected.
- Drug used to treat HIV patients could help reverse memory losson May 27, 2022 at 1:24 pm
More than five million Americans suffer from dementia, estimates suggest, with limited treatments available to slow the diseases ... a clinical trial to test maraviroc's influence on early memory loss ...
- Study: FDA-Approved HIV Drug Restores Memory Linking in Middle-Aged Miceon May 26, 2022 at 12:34 pm
Scientists from the United States and Korea have discovered a key molecular mechanism behind the memory linking and identified a way to restore this brain function in middle-aged mice.
- FDA-Approved Drug Could Combat Middle-Aged Memory Losson May 25, 2022 at 8:06 am
Scientists Identify How the Brain Links Memories HIV drug could combat middle-aged memory loss, research suggests. Our brains seldom record single memories—instead, they store memories into groups so ...
- Dementia: HIV drug could offer 'early intervention' for early memory loss - studyon May 25, 2022 at 8:01 am
DEMENTIA is an umbrella term for devastating conditions affecting the mind. Ultimately resulting in the death of the patient there is currently no cure. However, this hasn't stopped scientists from ...
- Brain Fog: Causes and Treatmentson May 25, 2022 at 6:33 am
Gianna Biscontini, a board-certified behavior analyst, author and coach based in Los Angeles, noticed a change in how her brain was working. “I noticed a cognitive decline. I began to miss meetings, ...
- The aging brain: New research paves way for treating memory losson May 24, 2022 at 9:15 am
New research finds that transplanting cerebrospinal fluid from younger mice helps treat memory loss in older ones.
via Bing News
The Latest on: Memory loss treatment
via Google News
Add Comment