hippocampus – mycolab.ai

Premorbid characteristics of the SAPAP3 mouse model of obsessive-compulsive disorder: behavior, neuroplasticity, and psilocybin treatment

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This research examined young genetically modified mice that lack the SAPAP3 gene to understand early signs of obsessive-compulsive disorder-like behavior. The study found that these juvenile mice showed anxiety-like behaviors before developing the excessive grooming typical of the adult model. Surprisingly, psilocybin treatment—which works in adult mice—did not help reduce anxiety in the younger mice, suggesting that the brain needs to mature for this treatment to be effective.

Changes in synaptic markers after administration of ketamine or psychedelics: a systematic scoping review

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This review examines how ketamine and psychedelics affect connections between brain cells. Under stressful conditions, ketamine and psychedelics appear to strengthen these connections in brain areas important for mood and learning. However, the effects are mixed under normal conditions and vary based on dose, sex, and which specific markers are measured. The findings suggest these substances may help restore brain function damaged by stress or substance use.

Safety, feasibility, and tolerability of psilocybin in older adults with amnestic MCI: Preliminary data from a SV2a PET imaging study

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Researchers investigated whether psilocybin, a compound from certain mushrooms, could be safely used to treat memory problems in older adults with mild cognitive impairment. In this early-stage study, participants received either psilocybin or a placebo while researchers used brain imaging to measure changes in synaptic connections. The preliminary results suggest psilocybin was well-tolerated with manageable side effects like dizziness, and participants were able to complete the study without serious problems.

Assessment of Lab4P Probiotic Effects on Cognition in 3xTg-AD Alzheimer’s Disease Model Mice and the SH-SY5Y Neuronal Cell Line

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Researchers tested a probiotic supplement called Lab4P on mice genetically engineered to develop Alzheimer’s-like symptoms and on human brain cells exposed to damaging proteins. The supplement successfully improved memory and cognitive function in the mice while protecting brain cells from damage, with stronger benefits when the mice were also on a high-fat diet. These findings suggest that probiotics might help prevent or slow cognitive decline related to Alzheimer’s disease.

Impaired spatial memory in adult vitamin D deficient BALB/c mice is associated with reductions in spine density, nitric oxide, and neural nitric oxide synthase in the hippocampus

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This study found that adults with vitamin D deficiency have impaired spatial memory and reduced brain structures called dendritic spines in the hippocampus, the brain region responsible for learning and memory. The researchers identified that low vitamin D decreases nitric oxide production in the brain, which is important for forming and maintaining the synaptic connections needed for memory formation. Importantly, when vitamin D was supplemented back to deficient mice, the brain’s ability to produce nitric oxide was restored, suggesting vitamin D supplementation could potentially improve cognitive function in vitamin D-deficient individuals.

Neuronal TIMP2 regulates hippocampus-dependent plasticity and extracellular matrix complexity

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Scientists discovered that a protein called TIMP2, which is naturally higher in young blood, plays a crucial role in maintaining brain memory and learning ability. Using laboratory mice, they found that TIMP2 helps keep the brain’s cellular environment flexible by controlling the buildup of structural proteins around nerve connections. Without adequate TIMP2, the brain develops more rigid connections that interfere with forming new memories and creating new brain cells, mimicking changes seen in aging and cognitive decline.

β-chitosan attenuates hepatic macrophage-driven inflammation and reverses aging-related cognitive impairment

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Researchers found that β-chitosan, a compound extracted from squid parietal bone, can reverse age-related memory and learning problems in mice, zebrafish, and worms. The compound works by reducing excessive inflammation in the liver and lowering inflammatory chemicals in the blood, which in turn reduces brain inflammation. This discovery suggests a direct connection between liver health and brain aging, and β-chitosan may offer a new therapeutic approach for age-related cognitive decline.

Erythropoietin restrains the inhibitory potential of interneurons in the mouse hippocampus

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Researchers studied how a protein called erythropoietin (EPO) affects brain cells called interneurons in the hippocampus, a region important for memory and learning. They found that EPO treatment reduces the inhibitory activity of certain interneurons, which makes the brain’s excitatory neurons more active. This change in brain balance could potentially help treat psychiatric disorders like schizophrenia and autism that involve imbalanced brain activity.

Deciphering the role of CAPZA2 in neurodevelopmental disorders: insights from mouse models

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Scientists studied a gene called CAPZA2 that helps control how brain cells connect to each other. When this gene doesn’t work properly, mice had trouble learning, remembering things, and interacting socially, similar to intellectual disability in humans. The researchers found that the problem happens because the connections between brain cells become abnormal and don’t mature properly. This research helps explain why some people with mutations in this gene have developmental difficulties and could lead to new treatments.

Reelin cells and sex-dependent synaptopathology in autism following postnatal immune activation

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Researchers found that infections in newborn mice, particularly males, can disrupt brain development and lead to autism-like behaviors by damaging special brain cells called Reelin+ cells that help synapses mature properly. These damaged synapses failed to develop normally, resulting in social withdrawal and repetitive behaviors similar to autism in humans. Importantly, the study found that male mice were much more susceptible to this immune-triggered damage than female mice. The findings suggest that Reelin could be a promising therapeutic target for treating autism in children who experienced infections early in life.

Research Keyword: hippocampus