Quieting the overactive hippocampus restores memory in aging.
A recent study by Bakker et al. shows that a low dose of the antiepileptic drug levetiracetam reduces hippocampal hyperactivity in elderly humans with amnestic mild cognitive impairment and improves hippocampal memory function. This points towards a new treatment strategy for age-related memory impairment by reducing deleterious overactivity of the hippocampus.
Glickenhaus Laboratory of Neuropsychology and Friedman Brain Institute, Department of Neuroscience, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA.
Mark G
MG
Baxter
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D060825:Cognitive Dysfunction / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006624:Hippocampus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D008568:Memory / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000188:drug therapy; D010889:Piracetam / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use
D000927:Anticonvulsants; D000077287:Levetiracetam; D010889:Piracetam