- Researchers report that because the hippocampus space of the mind shrinks, reminiscence worsens.
- They word that the decline in hippocampus quantity might be resulting from completely different types of dementia, not simply Alzheimer’s illness.
- The hippocampus helps people kind new recollections.
Hippocampus atrophy could also be related to cognitive decline.
In truth, researchers in a research revealed at present within the journal Neurology report that the quicker the atrophy course of, the quicker the decline.
They add that issues with reminiscence might be attributed to hippocampus shrinkage, however not all individuals with indicators of this situation have Alzheimer’s illness.
In their research, researchers analyzed the variety of
The members, with a median age of 73, didn’t have cognitive or reminiscence issues at the beginning of the research. Of the members, 56% have been girls and 44% have been males. All research topics had mind scans yearly for 10 years.
The researchers stated {that a} quicker decline within the dimension of the hippocampus was related to a extra fast cognitive decline. The scientists additionally discovered that hippocampus atrophy was impartial of amyloid plaques and tau tangles will increase.
The shrinkage of the hippocampus alone accounted for 10 p.c of the distinction in cognitive perform, they stated.
“This is an interesting study, showing us that not only amyloid-beta plaques in the brain but also decreasing the size of the hippocampus leads to memory loss,” stated Dr. Shae Datta, the co-director of NYU Langone’s Concussion Center in New York and director of cognitive neurology at NYU Langone Hospital—Long Island.
“The rise of new drugs that can target the amyloid-beta plaques in the brain that are an early sign of Alzheimer’s disease would not work on patients that did not have the amyloid-beta plaques and instead had hippocampal atrophy,” Datta, who was not concerned within the research, defined to Medical News Today. “This is why this study is important [it reminds us] to find the cause of dementia in the patient that we are treating. In older adults, they [the researchers] saw shrinking of the hippocampus lead to memory loss, even if they did not have Aβ or tau, suggesting that non-AD pathologies can also lead to hippocampal shrinking.”
The researchers famous that additional medical exams ought to look at whether or not the decline in hippocampus quantity is from Alzheimer’s illness or a unique trigger.
“Measuring the hippocampus by itself would not result in a specific diagnosis,” stated Dr. Douglas Scharre, a professor of medical neurology and psychiatry at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine and Director of the Division of Cognitive Neurology and the Center for Cognitive and Memory Disorders.
“It might predict response to medication if the cause of the hippocampus atrophy were due to Alzheimer’s disease or Lewy body disease,” Scharre, who was not concerned within the research, instructed Medical News Today. “Most other non-Alzheimer’s conditions causing hippocampal atrophy are not very amenable to medications.”
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“I think this is an excellent and very informative study,” stated Dr. Marc Gordon, the chief of neurology at Zucker Hillside Hospital in New York and a professor of neurology and psychiatry on the Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell.
“For me, the main takeaway from this study is that not every person who has memory issues and shrinkage of the hippocampus has Alzheimer’s,” Gordon, who was not concerned within the research, instructed Medical News Today. “And not everyone diagnosed with Alzheimer’s has it. Or, they may have Alzheimer’s and something else. It is a reminder to be open-minded and look at other possible causes for forgetfulness before making a diagnosis.”
Some of the constraints of the research included:
- The members have been extremely educated and white, making it tough to generalize the outcomes to different populations.
- The pre-trial testing didn’t embrace early Alzheimer’s. The researchers counsel additional research ought to embrace younger individuals to map the event of Alzheimer’s because it pertains to the hippocampus.
- The researchers famous that extra prolonged research or extra observations per participant might doubtlessly result in completely different conclusions.
The hippocampus performs a job in reminiscence.
“The hippocampus (there are two in the brain, one on each side) is a brain structure found deep inside the brain. It is critical in forming new memories,” stated Dr. David Merrill, a geriatric psychiatrist and director of the Pacific Neuroscience Institute’s Pacific Brain Health Center in California.
“Without the hippocampus, you could be introduced to someone, leave the room for a few seconds, then come back and need to be introduced again because you have no memory of meeting them,” Merrill, who was not concerned within the research, instructed Medical News Today. “In the later years, the hippocampus can shrink in size and volume. Often, this is caused by dementia, but not necessarily Alzheimer’s. It could be another form of dementia, such as vascular, brain lesions, or age-related tauopathy. As it shrinks, memory continues to worsen.”
Exercise helps to maintain the hippocampus working correctly. Regular train promotes the expansion of recent neurons, that are integrated into the hippocampus, based on a
Another
Diet can also be important in protecting the hippocampus wholesome and serving to it improve in dimension. “A low glycemic or Mediterranean diet is good for brain health,” Merrill stated. “The quality of your diet is reflected in your brain. Like exercise, eating well can increase the size of your hippocampus.
“If I had to sum up keeping your brain healthy,” stated Merrill, “it would be good nutrition, regular exercise, and regular socialization.”
