Wissenschaftler
der Universität Heidelberg haben es geschafft, das Erinnerungsvermögen
älterer Mäuse mit Hilfe eines Eiweißes
(Proteins) zu verbessern. Foto: dpa
(December 21, 2015) Research
findings of Heidelberg neurobiologists could lead to new treatment approaches
for memory loss and anxiety disorders.
Increasing the level of a certain DNA-modified enzyme in the
brain significantly improves cognitive ability. The discovery was made by the
research team led by Prof. Dr. Hilmar Bading at the Interdisciplinary Center
for Neurosciences of Heidelberg University. Mouse experiments showed that the
Dnmt3a2 protein can boost memory performance in the animals. Because this
protein also affects fear memory and the ability to erase bad memories, the
researchers hope these findings can be used to develop new treatments for
post-traumatic stress disorder and other forms of anxiety. The results of the
research were published in the journal “Molecular Psychiatry”.
In an earlier study, the Heidelberg scientists learned that
there are reduced levels of Dnmt3a2 protein in the brains of older mice. When
the elderly animals were injected with viruses that produce this protein, their
memory capacity improved. “Now we have found that increasing the Dnmt3a2 level
in the brains of younger mice also boosts their cognitive ability”, explains
Prof. Bading. In a number of different long-term memory tests, including
classic Pavlovian conditioning, the scientists were able to demonstrate that
mice with more Dnmt3a2 on board performed considerably better.