UCI discovery reverses certain memory problems

UC Irvine scientists have discovered how to reverse learning and memory problems caused by a common form of mental retardation.

UCI neurobiologist Julie Lauterborn and her colleagues identified a mutated gene, called fragile X mental retardation 1, that disrupts brain processes necessary for long-term memory formation.

Fragile X syndrome is the most commonly inherited cause of mental impairment, according to the National Fragile X Foundation.

By adding a certain protein into the hippocampus region of mice with the mutation, scientists saw their memory-forming abilities completely restored.

“While this discovery doesn’t identify a cure for Fragile X syndrome, it provides the scientific foundation for methods to treat its learning and memory deficits,” Lauterborn stated in a news release.

— Joseph Serna