An international study using animal models has shown that the insulin growth factor type 2 (IGF-II) reinforces the memory and prevents forgetfulness. The results of this project, carried out in the School of Medicine of Mount Sinai Hospital in New York by a team that included Dr. Ana García-Osta, a researcher at the Center for Applied Medical Research (CIMA) in the University of Navarra, were published in the latest issue of the journal Nature.

This article describes the role that IGF-II plays in the processes of consolidating long-term memory. "By studies using microarrays (to identify genes) we were able to show that the gene which codes for this protein increases in the brain of rats that are exposed to a learning session. When IGF-II was administered locally in the hippocampus (the area of the brain where memory is acquired and consolidated) in these animals, we observed that the animal had increased powers of memory and was less likely to be forgetful", the researcher explained. On the other hand, if the expression of the IGF-II gene is blocked in the hippocampus, this prevents the formation of new memories, which shows that this is molecule is essential for memories to form and be consolidated. We believe that IGF-II could be a new target for treatments designed to improve cognitive function".

Dr. Ana García-Osta is now working in CIMA on a research project investigating whether administration of IGF-II is able to reduce dementia in an animal model of Alzheimer's disease.