Saturated fatty acid levels increase when making memories
Saturated fatty acids have emerged as key players in forming memories


Date:
June 28, 2021
Source:
University of Queensland
Summary:
Saturated fatty acid levels unexpectedly rise in the brain during
memory formation, according to new research.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Saturated fatty acid levels unexpectedly rise in the brain during memory formation, according to research, opening a new avenue of investigation
into how memories are made.


==========================================================================
Dr Tristan Wallis, from Professor Frederic Meunier's laboratory at UQ's Queensland Brain Institute (QBI), said traditionally, polyunsaturated
fatty acids were considered important to health and memory, but this
study highlighted the unexpected role of saturated fatty acids.

"We tested the most common fatty acids to see how their levels changed
as new memories were formed in the brain," Dr Wallis said.

"Unexpectedly, the changes of saturated fat levels in the brain cells
were the most marked, especially that of myristic acid, which is found
in coconut oil and butter.

"In the kitchen, saturated fats are those which are solid at room
temperature while unsaturated fats are normally liquid.

"The brain is the fattiest organ in the body, being 60 per cent fat,
which provides energy, structure and assists in passing messages between
brain cells.

"Fatty acids are the building blocks of lipids or fats and are vital for communication between nerve cells, because they help synaptic vesicles -
- microscopic sacs containing neurotransmitters -- to fuse with the cell membrane and pass messages between the cells.

"We have previously shown that when brain cells communicate with
each other in a dish, the levels of saturated fatty acids increase." Researchers have found that fatty acid levels in the rat brain,
particularly saturated fatty acids, increase as memories are formed,
but when they used a drug to block learning and memory formation in rats,
the fatty acid levels did not change.

The highest concentration of saturated fatty acids was found in the
amygdala - - the part of the brain involved in forming new memories specifically related to fear and strong emotions.

Study contributor and QBI Director Professor Pankaj Sah said the work
opened a new avenue on how memory was formed.

"This research has huge implications on our understanding of synaptic plasticity -- the change that occurs at the junctions between neurons that allow them to communicate, learn and build memories," Professor Sah said.

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by University_of_Queensland. Note:
Content may be edited for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Tristan P. Wallis, Bharat G. Venkatesh, Vinod K. Narayana, David
Kvaskoff, Alan Ho, Robert K. Sullivan, Franc,ois Windels, Pankaj
Sah, Fre'de'ric A. Meunier. Saturated free fatty acids and
association with memory formation. Nature Communications, 2021;
12 (1) DOI: 10.1038/ s41467-021-23840-3 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2021/06/210628123017.htm

--- up 7 weeks, 3 days, 22 hours, 45 minutes
* Origin: -=> Castle Rock BBS <=- Now Husky HPT Powered! (1337:3/111)