Insulin-like Growth Factors: Boosting Brain Plasticity Revealed
Researchers have discovered a mechanism linking insulin-like growth factors (IGF) to brain plasticity, showing how IGF1 and IGF2 promote brain health and functionality, including learning and memory, through the activation of IGF1-Receptor during synaptic plasticity. The study reveals an autocrine mechanism in neurons that is crucial for brain plasticity, shedding light on the encoding of memories in the brain and potentially paving the way for future research in preventing cognitive decline and diseases such as Alzheimer's.