Start testing memory retention drugs

American scientists have entered the final stage of the drug-making effort to prevent the disappearance of memory. It will be a powerful weapon in the fight against diseases related to brain function decline.

With anti-erosion memory drugs, human learning will become easier.Photo: wagner.edu.

During the study of obesity, scientists at the University of California (USA) accidentally discovered that high-fat foods can strengthen long-term memory. So they are determined to develop a drug that works like fat.

The team found that oleic acid in fat-rich foods is converted into a compound called oleoylethanolamide (OEA) in the upper part of the small intestine. OEA not only sends "no" and "stuff" signals to the brain, but also creates memory consolidation (in which short-term memories are converted into long-term memories).

Professor Daniele Piomelli, who led the study, said OEA activates the memory consolidation process in the amygdala region (responsible for reinforcing emotional memories). This is a almond-shaped area of ​​the temporal lobe in the brain.

"In simple words, OEA is like a glue that holds memory in the brain," Piomelli explains. He argued that it was OEA that helped prehistoric people memorize places with plenty of food and water. In terms of evolution, it is an important tool for prehistoric humans and other mammals.

Although fat accounts for quite a large proportion of the diet of modern people, the same thing does not happen in primitive times. In fact, our ancestors rarely eat high-fat things. "Remembering the location of good food is a necessity for the prehistoric effort to survive. It's no wonder that mammals also possess this ability," Piomelli said.

Professor Piomelli said the drug works just like OEA is being tested with humans. Previously, he and his colleagues tested on mice. The results showed that the long-term memory capacity of mice increased significantly. If human trials are successful, humanity will have new weapons in the fight against dementia, such as Alzheimer's.