(Press-News.org) A gene previously linked to intellectual disability has been found to regulate learning and memory in mice.
The gene, called KDM5B has previously been linked to some intellectual disability disorders and autism. In the general population, some variants are also associated with reduced brain function, although not sufficient to cause an overt disability or behavioural symptoms.
Now, researchers at King’s College London, the University of Exeter and the University of California Irvine have found that reduced function of the gene in the brain results in loss of learning ability and memory and a reduction in the brain’s ability to strengthen connections between neurons, which is key in the formation of memories.
The team’s new mouse study, published in the Journal of Neuroscience describes how mice bred without a fully functional KDM5B gene have worse learning and memory abilities. In order to rule out the possibility that the effect may have been caused by an impact on brain development, the researchers also reduced the amount of this gene in a separate group of adult mice, in the hippocampus, a brain region responsible for memory. They found that reduced gene function resulted in epileptic seizures in some mice and a deterioration of their learning and memory. Laboratory experiments suggested that the strengthening of connections between neurons during memory formation was reduced.
Professor Albert Basson, whose research group began the work at King’s College London and has since moved to the University of Exeter, said: “Memory and the ability to learn are fundamental to our intellectual potential, yet we still have a lot to learn about the underpinning mechanisms. For more than a decade, the KDM5B gene has been linked to autism and some forms of intellectual disability, but a mutation in this gene alone is not always sufficient to cause these conditions, so it hasn’t been studied in detail. Our work shows that KDM5B is important for learning and memory and provides new insight into the fundamental mechanisms of memory and learning, which is crucial on the pathway to finding new ways to improve these functions.”
KDM5B can modify the structure of the genetic material in our cells which determines whether genes necessary for brain development or function are expressed at the correct amount at the right time.
Dr Leticia Peres-Sisquez who performed the research at King’s College London, said: “We set out to investigate whether KDM5B’s ability to modify genetic material has a direct impact on learning and memory. We’ve discovered that the gene has a direct impact on learning and memory – which is distinct from any effect during brain development. This gene will now be of much greater interest to researchers on the quest for new treatments for conditions including autism, and other intellectual disability disorders.”
The research was funded by the Medical Research Council and the National Institutes of Aging, with support from Wellcome.
The study is entitled ‘The intellectual disability risk gene Kdm5b regulates long term memory consolidation in the hippocampus’, published in the Journal of Neuroscience.
END
Gene linked to learning difficulties has direct impact on learning and memory
A gene previously linked to intellectual disability has been found to regulate learning and memory in mice
2024-05-08
ELSE PRESS RELEASES FROM THIS DATE:
Study: Pressure to be “perfect” causing burnout for parents, mental health concerns for their children
2024-05-08
COLUMBUS, OHIO – Is the status of “perfect parent” attainable?
Researchers leading a national dialogue about parental burnout from The Ohio State University College of Nursing and the university’s Office of the Chief Wellness Officer say “no,” and a new study finds that pressure to try to be “perfect” leads to unhealthy impacts on both parents and their children.
The survey of more than 700 parents nationwide from June 15 – July 28, 2023 is summarized in the new report, “The Power of Positive Parenting: Evidence to Help Parents and Their Children Thrive.” The data shows that:
Fifty-seven ...
Healthy Start is life changing and could reach more families if it was reframed and better coordinated and resourced, says study
2024-05-08
The study was funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR), the research arm of the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC), and was led by Professor Christina Vogel, Director of the Centre for Food Policy at City, University of London. DHSC commissioned this work to evaluate the Healthy Start scheme in England and understand how the scheme can be improved to reach more eligible families.
The Healthy Start scheme was launched in 2006. It offers financial support and free vitamins for pregnant ...
Study exposes alarming risks to Scotland's food delivery couriers
2024-05-08
A new study highlighting the risks encountered by food delivery couriers reveals a majority feel ‘unsafe’ when at work with every woman surveyed having experienced sexual harassment or abuse.
Led by Dr Pedro Mendonca from the Centre for Employment, Work and the Professions (CREWs) at Heriot-Watt University’s Edinburgh Business School, the two-year project gathered feedback from 207 workers, including 33 women, employed in the food delivery industry in cities across Scotland.
It reveals more than 81% felt unsafe in their job yet continued due to financial necessity while 78% believed their ...
Mobile teams bring COVID-19 vaccines to rural villages in Sierra Leone
2024-05-07
URBANA, Ill. – COVID-19 vaccination rates remain low in many African countries, often because providing access to vaccines is difficult in remote areas. A new international research project showed that intervention with mobile vaccination teams in Sierra Leone is an effective way of reaching rural populations to increase vaccination uptake.
Madison Levine, a doctoral student in the Department of Agricultural and Consumer Economics (ACE), part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences (ACES) at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, participated in the project as a field research assistant. She is a co-author ...
Kinsey Institute study shows female gamers only label half of sexual harassment incidents they experience as such
2024-05-07
A new study from the Kinsey Institute reveals that only 50.5% of women who were targets of sexual harassment during online gaming identified qualifying incidents as such. This figure dropped further to only 42.2% for women who witnessed sexual harassment of other women while gaming.
The study included 182 women from North America who played online video games at least once a week. Researchers examined a variety of sexual harassment behaviors, from unwanted sexual remarks to explicit images to sexual threats. In line with ...
New NIH grant aims to combat sight damage from diabetes
2024-05-07
DETROIT — Fu-Shin Yu, Ph.D., professor of ophthalmology, visual and anatomical sciences in the Wayne State University School of Medicine, received an award from the National Eye Institute of the National Institutes of Health for his study aiming to reverse the adverse effects of diabetes on eyesight.
The five-year grant for $2,167,882 will benefit Yu’s research “Role of Programmed Cell Death Pathways in Bacterial Keratitis,” Which will investigate biological processes that ...
Research shows altered regulation of genes linked to prostate cancer among firefighters
2024-05-07
Firefighters may have an increased risk of prostate cancer due to on-the-job chemical exposures, according to new research from the University of Arizona Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and University of Michigan in collaboration with fire service partners and researchers around the country through the Fire Fighter Cancer Cohort Study.
Prostate cancer is the leading incident cancer among U.S. males. Firefighters are diagnosed with prostate cancer at a rate 1.21 times higher than the general population, possibly because of chemical exposures including smoke and firefighting foam during firefighting.
Some of those chemicals ...
Seven ORNL inventions licensed to Texas-based lithium recovery firm
2024-05-07
A collection of seven technologies for lithium recovery developed by scientists from the Department of Energy’s Oak Ridge National Laboratory has been licensed to Element3, a Texas-based company focused on extracting lithium from wastewater produced by oil and gas production.
The technologies were developed through the Critical Materials Innovation Hub, a DOE Energy Innovation Hub led by Ames National Laboratory that is dedicated to accelerating scientific and technological solutions to ensure secure domestic supply chains for ...
New physicians’ exam scores tied to patient survival
2024-05-07
At a glance:
How well a newly minted doctor scores on their medical board exam appears linked to patients’ odds of dying or being readmitted to the hospital.
Doctors’ performance on ratings of knowledge and skill taken periodically during residency training is not linked to patient outcomes.
Findings offer reassurance that certification exams, which aim to demonstrate the competence of physicians, capture critical knowledge and clinical judgment skills for physicians.
How do we know whether newly minted doctors have what it takes to ...
Association of inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers and accelerated aging in cardiac catheterization patients
2024-05-07
“[...] this study is an initial examination of the associations between epigenetic and transcriptomic aging biomarkers and novel NMR lipoprotein biomarkers.”
BUFFALO, NY- May 7, 2024 – A new research paper was published in Aging (listed by MEDLINE/PubMed as "Aging (Albany NY)" and "Aging-US" by Web of Science) Volume 16, Issue 8, entitled, “Associations among NMR-measured inflammatory and metabolic biomarkers and accelerated aging in cardiac catheterization patients.”
Research ...
LAST 30 PRESS RELEASES:
Two-way water transfers can ensure reliability, save money for urban and agricultural users during drought in Western U.S., new study shows
New issue of advances in dental research explores the role of women in dental, clinical, and translational research
Team unlocks new insights on pulsar signals
Great apes visually track subject-object relationships like humans do
Recovery of testing for heart disease risk factors post-COVID remains patchy
Final data and undiscovered images from NASA’s NEOWISE
Nucleoporin93: A silent protector in vascular health
Can we avert the looming food crisis of climate change?
Alcohol use and antiobesity medication treatment
Study reveals cause of common cancer immunotherapy side effect
New era in amphibian biology
Harbor service, VAST Data provide boost for NCSA systems
New prognostic model enhances survival prediction in liver failure
China focuses on improving air quality via the coordinated control of fine particles and ozone
Machine learning reveals behaviors linked with early Alzheimer’s, points to new treatments
Novel gene therapy trial for sickle cell disease launches
Engineering hypoallergenic cats
Microwave-induced pyrolysis: A promising solution for recycling electric cables
Cooling with light: Exploring optical cooling in semiconductor quantum dots
Breakthrough in clean energy: Scientists pioneer novel heat-to-electricity conversion
Study finds opposing effects of short-term and continuous noise on western bluebird parental care
Quantifying disease impact and overcoming practical treatment barriers for primary progressive aphasia
Sports betting and financial market data show how people misinterpret new information in predictable ways
Long COVID brain fog linked to lung function
Concussions slow brain activity of high school football players
Study details how cancer cells fend off starvation and death from chemotherapy
Transformation of UN SDGs only way forward for sustainable development
New study reveals genetic drivers of early onset type 2 diabetes in South Asians
Delay and pay: Tipping point costs quadruple after waiting
Magnetic tornado is stirring up the haze at Jupiter's poles
[Press-News.org] Gene linked to learning difficulties has direct impact on learning and memoryA gene previously linked to intellectual disability has been found to regulate learning and memory in mice