{"id":3334,"date":"2024-08-12T16:25:57","date_gmt":"2024-08-12T16:25:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/?p=3334"},"modified":"2024-10-17T19:01:35","modified_gmt":"2024-10-17T19:01:35","slug":"scientists-identify-key-enzyme-linked-to-memory-problems-in-aging-brains","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/scientists-identify-key-enzyme-linked-to-memory-problems-in-aging-brains\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists Identify Key Enzyme Linked to Memory Problems in Aging Brains"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-group\"><div class=\"wp-block-group__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-blockquote uagb-block-e7eb3fc3 uagb-blockquote__skin-border uagb-blockquote__stack-img-none\"><blockquote class=\"uagb-blockquote\"><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__content\">A new study by Penn State researchers has found that blocking a specific enzyme in older mice enhances their ability to update memories, bringing scientists closer to potential treatments for age-related cognitive decline.<\/div><footer><div class=\"uagb-blockquote__author-wrap uagb-blockquote__author-at-left\"><\/div><\/footer><\/blockquote><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-content-justification-space-between is-nowrap is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-b0ffac9c wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\"><div style=\"font-size:16px\" class=\"has-text-align-left wp-block-post-author\"><div class=\"wp-block-post-author__content\"><p class=\"wp-block-post-author__name\">The University Network<\/p><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share uagb-social-share__outer-wrap uagb-social-share__layout-horizontal uagb-block-ee584a31\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-ec619ce7\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"facebook\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M504 256C504 119 393 8 256 8S8 119 8 256c0 123.8 90.69 226.4 209.3 245V327.7h-63V256h63v-54.64c0-62.15 37-96.48 93.67-96.48 27.14 0 55.52 4.84 55.52 4.84v61h-31.28c-30.8 0-40.41 19.12-40.41 38.73V256h68.78l-11 71.69h-57.78V501C413.3 482.4 504 379.8 504 256z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-32d99934\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/share?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"twitter\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 512 512\"><path d=\"M389.2 48h70.6L305.6 224.2 487 464H345L233.7 318.6 106.5 464H35.8L200.7 275.5 26.8 48H172.4L272.9 180.9 389.2 48zM364.4 421.8h39.1L151.1 88h-42L364.4 421.8z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-uagb-social-share-child uagb-ss-repeater uagb-ss__wrapper uagb-block-1d136f14\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__link\" data-href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?url=\" tabindex=\"0\" role=\"button\" aria-label=\"linkedin\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-wrap\"><span class=\"uagb-ss__source-icon\"><svg xmlns=\"https:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" viewBox=\"0 0 448 512\"><path d=\"M416 32H31.9C14.3 32 0 46.5 0 64.3v383.4C0 465.5 14.3 480 31.9 480H416c17.6 0 32-14.5 32-32.3V64.3c0-17.8-14.4-32.3-32-32.3zM135.4 416H69V202.2h66.5V416zm-33.2-243c-21.3 0-38.5-17.3-38.5-38.5S80.9 96 102.2 96c21.2 0 38.5 17.3 38.5 38.5 0 21.3-17.2 38.5-38.5 38.5zm282.1 243h-66.4V312c0-24.8-.5-56.7-34.5-56.7-34.6 0-39.9 27-39.9 54.9V416h-66.4V202.2h63.7v29.2h.9c8.9-16.8 30.6-34.5 62.9-34.5 67.2 0 79.7 44.3 79.7 101.9V416z\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Memory lapses are a common issue as people age, often resulting in difficulty recalling new information and updating old memories with new details. Despite its prevalence, the underlying mechanisms of this challenge have largely remained a mystery \u2014 until now. Researchers at Penn State have uncovered a significant breakthrough, identifying an enzyme that contributes to memory updating problems in older adults.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a groundbreaking study <a href=\"https:\/\/www.frontiersin.org\/journals\/molecular-neuroscience\/articles\/10.3389\/fnmol.2024.1429880\/full\" title=\"\">published<\/a> in Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience, the team demonstrated that blocking histone deacetylase 3 (HDAC3) in older mice improved their ability to incorporate new information and update existing memories.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We\u2019re constantly building on things we already know and modifying existing memories,&#8221; Janine Kwapis, assistant professor of biology and senior author of the paper, said in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.psu.edu\/news\/research\/story\/memory-problems-old-age-linked-key-enzyme-study-mice-finds\/\" title=\"\">news release<\/a>.  \u201cBut 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.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Memory formation involves the brain consolidating information, a process where proteins at the synapse link neurons together, creating a network that fires simultaneously when a memory is recalled. The challenge increases with age, as the process of reconsolidation \u2014 where a memory is weakened and updated with new information \u2014 becomes less effective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;When you\u2019re presented with new information, you have to bring that existing memory out of storage and weaken it so it\u2019s ready to take on new information,&#8221; added Kwapis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The researchers sought to understand if enhancing gene expression during this update process could improve memory reconsolidation. They focused on HDAC3, an enzyme known to negatively affect memory formation and gene expression during consolidation. This study is the first to investigate HDAC3&#8217;s role in memory updating.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;If we block this enzymatic activity from happening, it may help maintain a more open chromatin state and improve gene expression,&#8221; said Chad Smies, a doctoral student in biology and first author of the paper, in the news release.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using a methodology called the &#8220;objects in updated locations paradigm,&#8221; developed specifically to test memory updating, the team trained mice to learn locations of objects, moved one of the objects and then tested the mice&#8217;s memory. Older mice with blocked HDAC3 performed as well as their younger counterparts in recognizing new object locations.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;Mice like novelty so if they have good memory for the training session or the update session, they\u2019ll explore the novel object location more,&#8221; Smies added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The implications of this study are far-reaching. By identifying molecular mechanisms like HDAC3, the researchers hope to pave the way for therapeutic targets that can improve cognitive flexibility in aging populations, and potentially those with conditions such as Alzheimer\u2019s disease and dementia.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cIf these mechanisms improve memory in normal aging, they could potentially help with conditions like Alzheimer\u2019s disease and dementia too,\u201d added Kwapis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This study marks a significant milestone in understanding and potentially mitigating age-related cognitive decline, giving hope to millions seeking ways to maintain their mental acuity well into old age.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Memory lapses are a common issue as people age, often resulting in difficulty recalling new information and updating old memories with new details. Despite its prevalence, the underlying mechanisms of this challenge have largely remained a mystery \u2014 until now. Researchers at Penn State have uncovered a significant breakthrough, identifying an enzyme that contributes to [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"single-no-separators","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_uag_custom_page_level_css":"","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3334","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-science"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"uagb_featured_image_src":{"full":false,"thumbnail":false,"medium":false,"medium_large":false,"large":false,"1536x1536":false,"2048x2048":false},"uagb_author_info":{"display_name":"The University Network","author_link":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/author\/funky_junkie\/"},"uagb_comment_info":0,"uagb_excerpt":"Memory lapses are a common issue as people age, often resulting in difficulty recalling new information and updating old memories with new details. Despite its prevalence, the underlying mechanisms of this challenge have largely remained a mystery \u2014 until now. Researchers at Penn State have uncovered a significant breakthrough, identifying an enzyme that contributes to&hellip;","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3334","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3334"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3334\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3381,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3334\/revisions\/3381"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3334"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3334"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.tun.com\/home\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3334"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}