Drugs hope for memory improvement

Drugs that improve connections between nerve cells in the brain may be able to improve people's memory and help understand disorders such as Alzheimer's disease, scientists have revealed.

A new study, published in the journal PLoS Biology, found that when a protein used to strengthen synapses in the brain was given to rats, it improved their ability to learn and retain information.

The study, led by doctors Jose A Esteban, Shira Knafo and Cesar Venero, is the result of collaboration between researchers at The Centro de Biologia Molecular Severo Ochoa at the Universidad Nacional de Educacion a Distancia (UNED) in Spain; the Brain Mind Institute at the Ecole polytechnique federale de Lausanne (EPFL) in Switzerland; and the Department of Neuroscience and Pharmacology at the Faculty of Health Sciences in Denmark.

They looked at the connections, or synapses, which control cognitive function, and the way they change in strength and properties - known as synaptic plasticity.

Alterations in synaptic plasticity, suggested to be the cellular basis for learning and memory, are thought to be responsible for multiple cognitive deficits such as autism and Alzheimer's disease.

The new study looked at how synaptic plasticity can be manipulated to improve cognitive performance.

Scientists found synapses can be made more plastic by using a small protein fragment or peptide.

When administered to rats, this peptide - called FGL - was found to enhance their ability to learn and retain spatial information.

Dr Esteban said: "We have known for three decades that synaptic connections are not fixed from birth, but they respond to neuronal activity modifying their strength.

"Thus, outside stimuli will lead to the potentiation of some synapses and the weakening of others."

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Drugs hope for memory improvement