Testing Memory

Mice Cannot Remember then Can

Researchers at the University of Minnesota have made a significant discovery about the mouse brain that offers hope for partial recovery from Alzheimer's Disease.

These researchers have engineered a mouse that is prone to Alzheimers Disease. The mouse overproduces the tau protein in the brain which in turn causes the tangles typical of Alzheimer's. These unfortunate mice lose their memory and can't even remember basic things like how to escape from a water maze. Then, when the gene that causes tau overproduction is turned off, the tau protein stops increasing in the mice brains. That is no surprise. What is a surprise is that the mice actually begin to recover some of their memory capacity.

This is a very hopeful sign in brain research because it indicates that it may be possible for humans to partially recover from Alzheimer's Disease.

posted by Henry Bowles @ 6:59 PM