The process of aging impairs the neurological process of consolidating new memories during sleep, according to new research conducted on animals.
Findings published in the latest issue of the Journal of Neuroscience indicate that aging disrupts the brain’s memory mechanisms that store experiences long-term while we sleep.
Author of the study, Dr Carol Barnes from the University of Arizona, said: "This is the first study to suggest that an animal’s ability to perform a spatial memory task may be related to the brain’s ability to perform memory consolidation during sleep."
Using 11 young and 11 old rats, Dr Barnes and colleagues identified a difference in the replay activity of older rats. Those with more faithful sleep replay performed better on memory tests.
Commenting on the research, expert Dr Michael Hasselmo from Boston University said: "These findings suggest that some of the memory impairment experienced during aging could involve a reduction in the automatic process of experience replay."
According to Dr Hasselmo, the discovery could lead to the development and testing of treatment designed to enhance memory replay in humans.
The Society for Neuroscience currently has more than 38,000 members specialising in the study of the brain and nervous system.
