A research team led by Lee Seung-hee, a professor of bioscience at KAIST, revealed that somatostatin, one of the nerve peptides present in the brain, can enhance brain cognitive function.
Professor Lee's research team found that somatostatin can control and increase the information processing of visual cortex, according to the KAIST on April 23.
The research results are expected to serve as an opportunity to develop treatments to recover cognitive abilities from brain diseases such as dementia.
The results of the study, which was co-authored by Dr. Song Yoo-hyang of the Department of Bioscience and Brain Engineering, Kim Kwan-soo of the Department of Biotechnology and Brain Engineering, and Lee Hyung-ro of Seoul National University's College of Medicine, were published in the online edition of the international journal Science Advances on April 22.
As of 2019, one in 10 senior citizens aged 65 or older in South Korea has dementia diseases. Dementia causes daily disorders such as memory loss, cognitive function, and motor function degradation, which is increasing the seriousness of dementia.
Lee's research team observed the cognitive function of mice after injecting them directly into their cerebrospinal fluid. The result was a significant increase in the cognitive function associated with visual information.
Furthermore, the research team measured the change in neurotransmitter efficiency between nerve cells in the brain by somatostatin and identified the principle of improving visual recognition function.
The results of this research will not only be able to control the cognitive function of humans and mammals in the future, but will also be widely applied to the treatment of cognitive dysfunction that occurs in degenerative brain diseases.
Professor Lee said, "We expect the study to lead to the development of new drugs that can enhance brain function and treat brain diseases."
