Key Enzyme Could Be the Secret to Sharper
Memory in Old Age: Researchers at Penn
State found that blocking an enzyme, histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3), helps older
mice incorporate new information into existing memories, performing as well as
younger mice. This discovery could lead to treatments that improve memory updating
in the elderly and potentially aid in combating Alzheimer’s disease and other
dementias.
Penn State
researchers discovered that blocking the enzyme HDAC3 improves memory updating
in older mice, potentially offering new treatment avenues for age-related
cognitive decline and memory disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease.
As we age,
occasional forgetfulness becomes more common. However, it’s not just about
struggling to recall new information—older adults also find it challenging to
update existing memories when new details arise. Yet, little is known about the
mechanisms behind memory updating and how those mechanisms go awry with age.
A team of
researchers from Penn State has identified an enzyme that contributes to
age-related impairments in memory updating. When blocked, older mice were
better able to incorporate new information and performed similarly to their
younger counterparts. The researchers said the findings, which were published
in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, may lead to the development of
potential therapeutic targets for improving cognitive flexibility in old age.
“It’s important to
understand what’s happening at a molecular level during a memory update
because, as humans, most of our memories are updates. We’re constantly building
on things we already know and modifying existing memories,” said Janine Kwapis,
assistant professor of biology and senior author of the paper. “But no one has
really looked to see if the mechanisms behind memory formation and memory
updating are identical or if they are unique for memory updating. This is a
step forward in figuring that out.”
The Science of
Memory Consolidation and Reconsolidation
When a memory
forms, the brain rewires itself to keep that memory in place through a process
called consolidation. Cells express proteins at the synapse, the gap between
neurons that allows communication between nerve cells, linking together the
cells activated when the memory formed. When the memory is recalled, those
cells then fire together at the same time.
