Hippocampus News and Research

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The hippocampus is a part of the forebrain, located in the medial temporal lobe. It belongs to the limbic system and plays major roles in short term memory and spatial navigation. Humans and other mammals have two hippocampi, one in each side of the brain.

Does coffee truly boost memory and focus or is it all hype?

Coffee’s bioactive compounds, especially caffeine, show potential cognitive, neuroprotective, and neuroplasticity benefits across animal and human studies. However, most findings are observational, mechanisms remain uncertain, and optimal intake is still unclear.

23 Nov 2025

Muscle-driven gene therapy shows promise for protecting memory in Alzheimer’s

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a devastating cause of memory loss and cognitive decline, for which no curative treatment is available.

18 Nov 2025

Preclinical study shows aged garlic extract improves memory and reduces anxiety

Long-term aged garlic extract supplementation improved specific anxiety-related behaviors and enhanced memory and learning in aging mice. Proteomic profiling revealed extensive hippocampal and cortical molecular changes linked to synaptic signaling, neuroplasticity, and stress-response pathways.

16 Nov 2025

Mental navigation framework helps people change pathological thinking

The stereotypical image of psychotherapy shows a patient lying on a couch, exploring their deepest traumas. This leads to awareness of unconscious habits, thoughts, and drives and has long been a cornerstone of psychotherapy.

14 Nov 2025

Heart damage during middle age linked to greater dementia risk in later life

People with signs of damage to their heart during middle age are more likely to develop dementia in later life, according to a new study led by UCL (University College London) researchers.

5 Nov 2025

Aggression and self-harm could share a common neural basis

Aggression and self-harm often co-occur in individuals with a history of early-life trauma-a connection that has largely been documented by self-reporting in research and clinical settings.

5 Nov 2025

New AI-assisted atlas can help visualize the human brain in unprecedented detail

A new AI-assisted brain atlas that can help visualize the human brain in unprecedented detail has been developed by UCL researchers, in a major step forward for neuroscience and neuroimaging.

5 Nov 2025

Sensory effects of flavanols trigger physiological responses in the brain

Astringency is a dry, puckering, rough, or sandpapery sensation in the mouth caused by plant-derived polyphenols.

31 Oct 2025

Study uncovers neural mechanisms behind memory stabilization

Newly decoded brain circuits make memories more stable as part of learning, according to a new study led by NYU Langone Health researchers.

30 Oct 2025

Liver alterations associated with MASLD can directly affect the brain and behavior

A multidisciplinary research team has discovered that liver alterations associated with metabolic dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MASLD) can directly cause cognitive and neurological impairments, and that these effects can be reversed by a therapy exclusively targeting the liver.

30 Oct 2025

Unlocking memory: The role of epigenetics in memory expression

Our experiences leave traces in the brain, stored in small groups of cells called "engrams". Engrams are thought to hold the information of a memory and are reactivated when we remember, which makes them very interesting to research on memory and age- or trauma-related memory loss.

29 Oct 2025

Hydroxytyrosol from olives shows new promise as a brain-protective compound

This review highlights hydroxytyrosol's role as a neuroprotective agent, activating key pathways for mental and vascular health through olive-derived compounds.

29 Oct 2025

Scientists uncover excessive maturation and aging in the hippocampus

In a groundbreaking study, researchers at Fujita Health University and the Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science have uncovered a previously overlooked form of brain abnormality linked to anxiety: excessive maturation and aging in the hippocampus, a state they term "hyper-maturity."

27 Oct 2025

Researchers reveal how maternal stress reshapes fetal growth and brain development

Maternal stress, encompassing physical, emotional, and psychological distress, remains a widespread yet underestimated risk during pregnancy.

24 Oct 2025

Exercise can mitigate depression-like behaviors induced by high-fat, high-sugar diets

Researchers led by Professor Yvonne Nolan at University College Cork have identified specific metabolic pathways through which exercise counteracts the negative behavioral effects of consuming a Western-style cafeteria diet.

21 Oct 2025

Heavy drinking fuels Alzheimer’s disease by igniting brain inflammation and protein damage

Chronic alcohol use accelerates Alzheimer’s disease (AD) progression by intensifying oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and amyloid-tau pathology through shared molecular pathways. The review highlights emerging therapies, targeting TLR4, GSK-3β, and metabolic dysfunction, that may mitigate alcohol-induced neurodegeneration.

20 Oct 2025