# Gene Expression in Long-Term Memory

> **NIH NIH R37** · NEW YORK UNIVERSITY · 2021 · $632,550

## Abstract

Maintaining and promoting healthy cognitive functions, of which memory is a most important one, is 
one  of the major goals of mental health research.  Diseases, stress, injury and aging can lead to 
cognitive and memory impairments. It is estimated that up to one third of adults will experience a 
gradual decline in cognitive function known as mild cognitive impairment as they age.  Furthermore, 
a number of diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, autism, mental retardation are associated with 
memory impairments. Thus, minimizing or preventing cognitive and memory impairments is a very 
important goal in mental health.  A principal approach toward this goal is to understand the 
physiological mechanisms of memory formation, persistence and storage and identify molecular 
mechanisms and targets that can be used to enhance memory, not only for potentiating normal 
functions but also for developing strategies that may prevent or reverse memory loss. Using rat and 
mouse models, we have identified the growth factor insulin like growth factor 2 (IGF-2) as a potent 
memory and cognitive enhancer in healthy conditions. Using models  of memory impairment in both 
developmental disorders and aging we found that IGF-2 significantly reverses memory losses. Our 
studies of the last 5 years also started elucidating some of the action mechanisms by which IGF-2 
promotes memory enhancement and reverse memory deficits. One of these mechanisms emerged as the 
autophagy/lysosomal degradation system, a key regulator of cell functions. Furthermore, 
investigations of mechanisms of memory formation and enhancement in cortical regions provided 
evidence for slow-developing learning-induced changes distinct from the known synaptic plasticity. 
This proposal aims at continuing these mechanistic investigations in order to: 1- Determine the 
role of autophagy/lysosomal degradation in memory consolidation and IGF-2-mediated memory 
enhancement, as well as their critical target mechanisms; 2- Determine identity and regulation of 
novel biological mechanisms occurring in cortical areas following training that are critical for 
memory consolidation and enhancement; and 3- Determine the role of myelination in long-term memory 
formation. Results from these studies should significantly advance our knowledge of brain 
plasticity mechanisms, which may be targeted to achieve memory enhancement and to treat cognitive disorders.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10076568
- **Project number:** 5R37MH065635-20
- **Recipient organization:** NEW YORK UNIVERSITY
- **Principal Investigator:** CRISTINA M ALBERINI
- **Activity code:** R37 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2021
- **Award amount:** $632,550
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2017-12-01 → 2022-11-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10076568

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10076568, Gene Expression in Long-Term Memory (5R37MH065635-20). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10076568. Licensed CC0.

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