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Scientists Say B2M Protein Is Responsible for Memory Loss

| July 8, 2015 Comment

Scientists Say B2M Protein Is Responsible for Memory Loss – According to neuroscientist Saul Villeda at the University of California, San Francisco, the beta-2-microglobulin protein (B2M) caused memory loss in mice, and this protein may provide a way to prevent memory loss associated with aging, Alzheimer’s disease, and dementia.

In a previous study, Villeda and his team had found that injecting old mice with the blood of young mice resulted in many beneficial effects, such as reversing memory loss, tissue deterioration, and muscle strength. On researching this further, they found that the B2M protein is found in larger quantities in people with Alzheimer’s disease and dementia and conducted another study to look into its effects on young mice. They injected the B2M protein into young mice that had been genetically changed to not produce it, and then administered some tests to gauge the effects of the protein on their memory.

The test involved discovering a platform immersed in water and a fear test involving an electrocuted floor. The mice that were injected with the B2M protein made mistakes and took longer to react to external stimuli that those who didn’t receive the B2M protein, suggesting a loss in memory and brain function.

Villeda and his team are now looking for ways to block the effects of B2M. The study was published in the journal, Nature America.

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