Uncovering the Brain's Magical Memory Process: Implications for Alzheimer's and Dementia

Wednesday - May 15 2024, 08:07 UTC - 8 months ago

Researchers at UCLA have uncovered the surprisingly simple process by which the brain creates working memory. This discovery could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's and related dementia. Their study utilized a 'mathematical microscope' to test their mathematical theory on memory dynamics, which was able to predict and explain the complexity of working memory formation in the brain.

UCLA Health researchers have identified a process that strengthens memory while reducing metabolic costs, even during sleep. This efficient memory process is found in a brain region essential for learning and memory, which is also where Alzheimer's disease originates. The discovery is published in the journal Nature Communications.

Have you ever forgotten why you walked into a room? This is an example of your working memory failing. Working memory is the ability to remember information for a short period while focusing on other tasks. We rely on working memory for daily activities such as remembering to finish tasks and not getting lost. Working memory deficits are common in Alzheimer's and dementia patients as well as those with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). That's why researchers have been working to understand the mechanisms behind working memory formation in the brain.

During working memory tasks, the neocortex, the outermost layer of the brain, sends sensory information to the entorhinal cortex, a central region crucial for forming and storing memories. Neurons in the entorhinal cortex have complex responses that have long puzzled scientists and even earned a Nobel Prize in medicine in 2014. This region is also where Alzheimer's disease begins.

To better understand the process of working memory formation, the research team led by neurophysicist Mayank Mehta, Head of the W. M. Keck Center for Neurophysics and the Center for Physics of Life at UCLA, used a unique approach: a 'mathematical microscope'. This approach involves devising a simple mathematical theory to explain complex experimental data, much like how physicists use models to explain the inner workings of subatomic particles.

While mathematical models have been used in physics, their use in brain sciences has been limited due to the brain's complexity. However, the team's mathematical theory was able to predict working memory dynamics with high precision, revealing the surprisingly simple process by which the brain creates working memory. This understanding could have important implications for early diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer's and related dementia.

'This strong and unique predictive power now constitutes a biophysical understanding of how the brain's important behavior of working memory arises,' Mehta stated. By revealing the underlying simplicity of working memory formation, the research team has opened doors for further studies on Alzheimer's and dementia, potentially leading to new diagnostic and therapeutic methods.