Although it has only been tested in mice, this new compound shows promise in that it could restore memory in people who have lost memory due to brain injury .
The compound, called ISRIB, is described in the finding paper, published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences .
ISRIB
When injured mice were given ISRIB for three consecutive days, they were able to solve the maze just as quickly as healthy mice , despite having previously suffered focused blows equivalent to those that could result in human car accidents or being hit with a heavy object.
According to the hypothesis of the team of researchers, the ISRIB works by allowing the resumption of normal protein synthesis, essential for making new neuronal connections and thus forming new memories.
It has yet to be tested in humans, but in any case it is the first proof that drug therapy shows significant results in chronic brain injury. According to Peter Walter , lead author of the research:
ISRIB ‘magically’ returns cognitive ability. Even if this drug does not materialize, it can lead to effective treatment in the future.