Memory loss in old age could be restored with an easily accessible HIV drug, scientists hope, as they plan to begin human trials.
Researchers at the University of California have discovered a key gene that cuts off unnecessary memories and found that turning it off increases memory.
Crucially, the gene also encodes the receptor that HIV needs to enter cells, and a drug called maraviroc is now available to silence its effect.
The results suggest that the drug may be an easy way to strengthen human memory in the Middle Ages and a possible early intervention for dementia.
“Our next step will be to organize a clinical trial to test the influence of maraviroc on early memory loss with the goal of early intervention,” said Alcino Silva, a professor of neurobiology and psychiatry at the David Geffen School of Medicine. from UCLA.
“Once we fully understand how memory decreases, we have the potential to slow down the process.”
The CCR5 gene
Brains rarely record unique memories and store them in groups so that the memory of a significant event triggers the memory of others. However, as people get older, their brains gradually lose that ability to connect, making it much more difficult to make the connections needed for healthy memory.
The researchers studied middle-aged mice to find out which parts of the brain were active when memories were linked to each other.
They found that when the CCR5 gene was too active it interfered with the memory link, causing the animals to forget the difference between two cages.
In contrast, when the CCR5 gene was deleted, the animals could link the memories once again. The same effect happened when the mice received the drug maraviroc.
“Our memories are a big part of who we are,” Professor Silva added. “The ability to link related experiences teaches us how to stay safe and operate successfully in the world.
“Life would be impossible if we remembered everything. We suspect that CCR5 allows the brain to connect meaningful experiences by filtering out less meaningful details.
“When we gave maraviroc to large mice, the drug doubled the effect of genetically removing CCR5 from its DNA. Older animals were able to reconnect memories.”
About 40% of people over the age of 65 have some form of memory impairment, although about 1% progress to dementia.