It’s been a long held notion that memories are stored in the synapses of the brain—the parts that connect one area to another. Alzheimer’s degrades the synapses, and thus destroys memories; even if you could regrow the synapses you cannot regrow the memories. A new study from University of California Los Angeles has found convincing evidence that memories are not stored in the synapses, and could possibly be restored. Through a complicated series of experiments with snails the UCLA researchers were able to erase and restore memories through the destruction and regrowth of synapses. While the snail’s brain is much simpler than a human’s—and researchers aren’t totally sure anymore where memories are stored—the researchers conclude from their study that if the synaptic connections can be restored memory will come back.
Restoring Alzheimer’s memory loss could be possible
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