Click the blue text above to follow Alzheimer’s disease for free now
< /p>University of North Carolina on May 16th
We humans lost Mind sharpness, an unfortunate side effect of aging. For people with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s, the loss of cognitive function is often accompanied by emotional disturbances such as anxiety, a distressing experience. One way to suppress cognitive decline and anxiety is to stimulate the generation of new neurons. For the first time, scientists at the University of North Carolina School of Medicine have targeted a specific neuron in mice to increase the generation of neural stem cells and stimulate the generation of new adult neurons , which affects behavior.
Adult newborn neurons responsible for memory and emotion regulation
Targeting these cells modulates memory retrieval and anxiety-like behaviors in mice, reports in the journal Nature Neuroscience. Essentially, UNC scientists enhanced electrical activity between cells in the hypothalamus and hippocampus to generate new neurons—an important process known as Neurogenesis.
Research published in Nature Neuroscience on May 6, 2022 (latest impact factor): 2p >
“Target hypothalamic neurons to enhance adult hippocampal neurogenesis and not only benefit brain function,” said senior author Song Juan, associate professor of pharmacology. ), “but also has the potential to treat cognitive and emotional deficits associated with a variety of brain disorders.”
Our lifetimes carry Most of the neurons in our body are created before we are born, forming tissues during infancy. But this neurogenesis continues into adulthood and throughout life. In fact one of the causes of cognitive decline and anxiety, and even diseases like Alzheimer’s disease, is a pause in neurogenesis.
Dr. Song, a member of the UNC Center for Neuroscience, has been studying the detailed interactions between brain cells that enable neurogenesis to take place . She knew that neurogenesis in the adult hippocampus plays an important role in memory and emotional processing, and that neural circuit activity (think “electrical activity”) modulates this process in an ever-changing fashion.
What no one knows is whether the activity of this neural circuit can be manipulated to stimulate Neurogenesis occurs so that its effects are seen as a behavioral change, such as better memory or less anxiety.
To observe the effects of modulating neural activity, Dr. Song’s lab conducted experiments led by co-first authors Dr. Ya-Dong Li and Dr. Yan-Jia Luo, both of whom is a postdoc. They used optogenetics (essentially a method of using light to trigger neuronal activity) in a small brain structure called the superior papillary nucleus (SuM). SuM is located in the hypothalamus region of the brain, where it helps manage everything from cognition to movement and sleep/wake.
When Dr. Song’s researchers long-term stimulated SuM neurons, they found that neurogenesis was enhanced at multiple stages.They observed an increase in the production of neural stem cells, as well as the production of adult newborn neurons with enhanced properties. Chemogenetic stimulation of these new neurons then altered memory and anxiety-like behavior.
“We also showed that when mice experience novel Yuan is very responsive,” Dr. Song said, “in fact, in a new environment, mice need these cells for neurogenesis.”
Impaired adult hippocampal neurogenesis is associated with many pathological states, such as aging, neurodegenerative diseases, and psychiatric disorders, “thus,” Dr. Song added, “targeting hypothalamic neurons to enhance Adult hippocampal neurogenesis not only benefits brain function, but also has the potential to treat cognitive and emotional deficits associated with various brain disorders.”
University of North Carolina founded in 1789
References
Source: University of North Carolina Health Care
Stimulating brain circuits promotes neuron growth in adulthood, improving cognition and mood
Reference:
Li, YD., Luo, YJ., Chen, ZK. et al. Hypothalamic modulation of adult hippocampal neurogenesis in mice confers activity-dependent regulation of memory and anxiety-like behavior. Nat Neurosci 25, 630–645 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41593-022-01065-x< /p>
Disclaimer
< p>The medical information on this official account is provided and shared only as an information resource, and is not used or relied on for any diagnostic or therapeutic purpose. This information should not be used as a substitute for professional diagnosis or treatment. Please consult your doctor before making any medical decision or guidance regarding a specific medical condition.
Caring for parents and paying attention to “Alzheimer’s disease”
p>