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Posted on 10/26/2011 3:52:34 PM PDT by decimon
DURHAM, N.C. - Immune system cells of the brain, which scavenge pathogens and damaged neurons, are also key players in memory and learning, according to new research by Duke neuroscientists.
Earlier studies by Staci Bilbo, an assistant professor in psychology & neuroscience, had shown that laboratory rats experiencing an infection at an early age have an aggressive immune response to subsequent infections, which also harms their learning and memory.
In a study published in the Oct. 26 Journal of Neuroscience, Bilbo's team identifies the source of the learning difficulties and traces it back to the immune system itself.
The researchers found that specialized immune system cells in the brain called microglia release a signaling molecule called Interleukin-1, or IL-1, in response to an infection. IL-1 is also crucial to normal learning and memory in the hippocampus region of the brain. But too much IL-1 can impair learning and memory in laboratory animals.
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To test how the immune response affected memory, Bilbo's team placed all the rats in a novel environment and exposed them to a sound and a mild shock through their feet. A normal rat remembers the environment after one trial, freezing in place immediately when they enter the familiar setting a second time.
But rats exposed to infection, who tend to overproduce IL-1, stroll through the previously painful experience as if they've never seen it before, Bilbo said.
Even without experiencing the second immune challenge, the rats infected as youngsters also seem to show cognitive declines earlier than their normal control counterparts. "This is intriguingly similar to what you see in Alzheimer's. It's really kind of scary," Bilbo said.
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(Excerpt) Read more at eurekalert.org ...
Ping
Hmmm. My husband fell very ill before a year old, high fever and intestinal problems, put in hospital before that was so common. He has the best brain and memory of anyone I know.
Funny, my wife never gets sick, never a cold, never the flu, nothing, and I mean never. She has a 158 IQ. I catch everything, and my IQ will be in single digits, if it keeps declining. My memory is already lost.
Funny, my wife never gets sick, never a cold, never the flu, nothing.......
Can’t remember what else you wrote.
This research seems to be limited to the later effects of pediatric infection. I'd tell you more but you'd just forget it. ;-)
Interesting. So it appears the immunity memory benefits while the other memories are diminished? Very interesting.
"This is intriguingly similar to what you see in Alzheimer's. It's really kind of scary," Bilbo said.
"This is intriguingly similar to what you see in Alzheimer's. It's really kind of scary," Bilbo said.
Bilbo: "Frodo, any chance of seeing that old Ring of mine again? Hmm? The one I gave you?"
Frodo: "I'm sorry, Uncle… I'm afraid I lost it."
Bilbo: "Oh, pity. I should like to have held it, one last time."
Giving up a ring of power is bound to affect one's memory...
Cheers!
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