PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Lots of money is being spent trying to find
the cause of Alzheimers and other forms of dementia. It has long
been my thought that there is not one cause, but many factors.
Researchers at Yale are looking at a very specific possibility.
They have found that older monkeys lack the normal persistent
firing of nerves in the prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain
that is critical to working memory. But it gets very
interesting. As reported in the journal Nature, when scientists
create an ideal environment for older monkey brains by changing
the neurochemical environment these reduced firing levels can be
increased. Why is this important? Working memory is critical to
everyday tasks, including planning ahead and learning. Early on
in normal aging, prefrontal cortex function declines, leading to
cognitive deficits such as forgetfulness and distractibility.
Reported By Dr. Brian McDonough, KYW Newsradio Medical Editor