Selective Removal of FXR1P Enhances Memory
As researchers make progress in understanding how memory works, they will also find ways to enhance its operation. A class of therapies that attempt to compensate for age-related memory impairment may arise as a result, but note that compensation is never a true replacement for addressing the actual causes of dysfunction. Still, even after the causes of memory issues with age are understood and prevented, there is still a place for options to enhance memory in healthy people. Who doesn't want better control over memory, even in youth?
This is an example of the sort of results currently emerging from studies of memory mechanisms in laboratory animals. Like all work at this early stage it is a long way from any practical implementation as an enhancement, but very interesting nonetheless:
[Researchers] used a mouse model to study how changes in brain cell connections produce new memories. They demonstrated that a protein, FXR1P (Fragile X Related Protein 1), was responsible for suppressing the production of molecules required for building new memories. When FXR1P was selectively removed from certain parts of the brain, these new molecules were produced that strengthened connections between brain cells and this correlated with improved memory and recall in the mice."The role of FXR1P was a surprising result. Previous to our work, no-one had identified a role for this regulator in the brain. Our findings have provided fundamental knowledge about how the brain processes information. We've identified a new pathway that directly regulates how information is handled and this could have relevance for understanding and treating brain diseases. Future research in this area could be very interesting. If we can identify compounds that control the braking potential of FXR1P, we may be able to alter the amount of brain activity or plasticity. For example, in autism, one may want to decrease certain brain activity and in Alzheimer's disease, we may want to enhance the activity. By manipulating FXR1P, we may eventually be able to adjust memory formation and retrieval, thus improving the quality of life of people suffering from brain diseases."
Link: http://muhc.ca/newsroom/news/total-recall-science-behind-it