Against HIV and dementia

HIV drug restored memory in mice

Svetlana Maslova, Hi-tech+

Researchers from the University of California at Los Angeles have discovered a key molecular mechanism that allows the brain to link memories. With age, this ability decreases, but the drug for HIV therapy has proved to be an effective tool for blocking this disorder.

Article by Shen et al. CCR5 closes the temporary window for memory linking published in the journal Nature – VM.

Usually memories are stored in groups, so remembering one significant memory causes a cascade of others related to it chronologically. As a person gets older, it becomes more and more difficult to do this. To understand why this happens, scientists focused on studying the CCR5 receptor, which, as previous experiments have shown, affects the decline in memory function.

It turned out that the increased expression of CCR5 in the brain of mice interfered with the binding of memories.

At the second stage, when the CCR5 gene was removed, the rodents could do it again. Realizing the important role of CCR5 in this mechanism, scientists turned to the HIV drug maraviroc, which is aimed at inhibiting CCR5. The use of the drug in old mice confirmed the result.

Now scientists are planning to conduct clinical trials, which will involve people with the earliest symptoms of cognitive impairment. Monitoring them will allow us to assess how effective maraviroc is for the prevention of dementia in the early stages.

In conclusion, the authors answer a very obvious question — why do we need a gene that naturally interferes with the ability to link memories. In their opinion, it allows the brain to better concentrate on significant events and filter out insignificant ones.

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