Posted on 03/20/2013 7:08:19 PM PDT by null and void
The flip of a single molecular switch helps create the mature neuronal connections that allow the brain to bridge the gap between adolescent impressionability and adult stability. Now Yale School of Medicine researchers have reversed the process, recreating a youthful brain that facilitated both learning and healing in the adult mouse.
Scientists have long known that the young and old brains are very different. Adolescent brains are more malleable or plastic, which allows them to learn languages more quickly than adults and speeds recovery from brain injuries. The comparative rigidity of the adult brain results in part from the function of a single gene that slows the rapid change in synaptic connections between neurons.
By monitoring the synapses in living mice over weeks and months, Yale researchers have identified the key genetic switch for brain maturation a study released March 6 in the journal Neuron. The Nogo Receptor 1 gene is required to suppress high levels of plasticity in the adolescent brain and create the relatively quiescent levels of plasticity in adulthood. In mice without this gene, juvenile levels of brain plasticity persist throughout adulthood. When researchers blocked the function of this gene in old mice, they reset the old brain to adolescent levels of plasticity.
"These are the molecules the brain needs for the transition from adolescence to adulthood," said Stephen Strittmatter. Vincent Coates Professor of Neurology, Professor of Neurobiology and senior author of the paper. "It suggests we can turn back the clock in the adult brain and recover from trauma the way kids recover."
Rehabilitation after brain injuries like strokes requires that patients re-learn tasks such as moving a hand. Researchers found that adult mice lacking Nogo Receptor recovered from injury as quickly as adolescent mice and mastered new, complex motor tasks more quickly than adults with the receptor.
"This raises the potential that manipulating Nogo Receptor in humans might accelerate and magnify rehabilitation after brain injuries like strokes," said Feras Akbik, Yale doctoral student who is first author of the study.
Researchers also showed that Nogo Receptor slows loss of memories. Mice without Nogo receptor lost stressful memories more quickly, suggesting that manipulating the receptor could help treat post-traumatic stress disorder.
"We know a lot about the early development of the brain," Strittmatter said, "But we know amazingly little about what happens in the brain during late adolescence."
I’m ready for my molecular switch to switch.
This sounds very exciting. Hopefully it could help with Alzheimer’s.
Based on raising three children the think the answer is the brain switches off during late adolescence. Then turn on in the early twenties. Other than that this old bran can use a few new switches. Bring it on.
I can remember stuff from 20+ years ago,...but not where I laid my glasses down.
Before switching my switch, please up date my body so it can keep up!
“old bran” Freudian slip there? :)
That’s all we need - a bunch of old men thinking they’re young again. Oh wait, most of us already do ... :)
That’ll be cool, and it’ll push up demand for minoxidil and boner pills.
Thanks null and void.
This research points to a simple enzyme deficiency as the cause.
Ever noticed there are no more real cures being developed.
Not profitable.,
The NEW detergent. Now with FLIP, for all government brainwashing chores.
The nice thing about fading memory is that as you get older, you tend to forget those things you did wrong in life.
It also makes it much easier to watch reruns.
Don’t let the Obots know about this. They’ll demand a new provision in Obamacare that mandates a daily regimen for every adult American, so that they can all start thinking and voting like young skulls full of mush again.
Can we try it out on congress?
Pretty much any parent of a teenager could have told you that.
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