Not so bad: Forgetfulness makes it easier to adapt to situations

Being forgetful isn’t as horrible as it is made out to be. A new research suggests that brains that have an active deletion mechanism tend to adapt better to surroundings. The findings could point towards new ways of tackling memory loss associated with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

Being forgetful isn’t as horrible as it is made out to be. A new research suggests that brains that have an active deletion mechanism tend to adapt better to surroundings.

Memories are maintained by chemical signalling between brain cells that relies on specialised receptors called AMPA receptors. The more AMPA receptors there are on the surface where brain cells connect, the stronger the memory.(Shutterstock)

The findings could point towards new ways of tackling memory loss associated with conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease and other types of dementia.

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“Our study looks at the biological processes that happen in the brain when we forget something,” said Oliver Hardt from University of Edinburgh in Scotland.

“The next step is to work out why some memories survive whilst others are erased. If we can understand how these memories are protected, it could one-day lead to new therapies that stop or slow pathological memory loss,” Hardt said.

The findings were published in The Journal of Neuroscience.

The process of actively wiping memories happens when brain cells remove AMPA receptors from the connections between brain cells. (Shutterstock)

The study conducted in rats could also help scientists to understand why some unwanted memories are so long-lasting — such as those of people suffering from post-traumatic stress disorders.

Memories are maintained by chemical signalling between brain cells that relies on specialised receptors called AMPA receptors.

The more AMPA receptors there are on the surface where brain cells connect, the stronger the memory.

Read: Want to boost your memory? Getting good night’s sleep is key

The team found that the process of actively wiping memories happens when brain cells remove AMPA receptors from the connections between brain cells.

Over time, if the memory is not recalled, the AMPA receptors may fall in number and the memory is gradually erased.

Blocking the removal of AMPA receptors with a drug that keeps them at the surface of the cell stopped the natural forgetting of memories, the study found.

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