Cited by 107Epigenetics and DNA MethylationMemory and Neural MechanismsAlzheimer's disease research and treatments

Epigenetic memory: The Lamarckian brain

Open access
Fischer, Andre·2014·The EMBO Journal

Abstract

Recent data support the view that epigenetic processes play a role in memory consolidation and help to transmit acquired memories even across generations in a Lamarckian manner. Drugs that target the epigenetic machinery were found to enhance memory function in rodents and ameliorate disease phenotypes in models for brain diseases such as Alzheimer's disease, Chorea Huntington, Depression or Schizophrenia. In this review, I will give an overview on the current knowledge of epigenetic processes in memory function and brain disease with a focus on Morbus Alzheimer as the most common neurodegenerative disease. I will address the question whether an epigenetic therapy could indeed be a suitable therapeutic avenue to treat brain diseases and discuss the necessary steps that should help to take neuroepigenetic research to the next level.

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Crossref · 10.1002/embj.201387637

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  • These epigenetic processes may have evolved in order to program the phenotype to effectively and rapidly adapt to new environmental demands.

    “these epigenetic processes may have evolved in order to program the phenotype to effectively and rapidly adapt to new environmental demands (Fischer, 2014;Gapp et al., 2016;Yeshurun & Hannan, 2019).”

    From The applied implications of epigenetics in anxiety, affective and stress-related disorders - A review and synthesis on psychosocial stress, psychotherapy and prevention (2020) · cites this paper as Fischer, 2014

    In “Writers, erasers, readers” (page not supplied), Fischer describes epigenetic mechanisms as turning genetic and environmental factors into long-term adaptive changes. “How much Lamarck is in our memories?” (page not supplied) gives an example of offspring better adapting to liver damage. The copy does not say these processes evolved for that purpose or establish rapid adaptation to new environmental demands. (LLM, conf=0.82)

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Research works printed but not linked: 1

  1. Miller CA Campbell SL Sweatt JD DNA methylation and histone acetylation work in concert to regulate memory formation and synaptic plasticity Neurobiol Learn Mem 2008 89 599 603 17881251 PMC2430891

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Authors
Fischer, A.
Venue
The EMBO Journal
Published
2014-04-09
Volume
33
Issue
9
Pages
945-967
ISSN
  • 0261-4189 (ISSN-L)
  • 1460-2075
OpenAlex
W2107234429
Cited by
107
References
299
Citations by year
2026: 6 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 2 · 2022: 3 · 2021: 10 · 2020: 13 · 2019: 8 · 2018: 8 · 2017: 14 · 2016: 10 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 5
FWCI
1.38
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • The EMBO Journal (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • DZNE Pub (submittedVersion, cc-by-nc-nd)
  • GRO (submittedVersion, cc-by)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Epigenetics and DNA Methylation
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Alzheimer's disease research and treatments
Keywords
epigenetic memory, memory consolidation, Lamarckian inheritance, epigenetic drugs, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, depression, schizophrenia, neuroepigenetics, epigenetic therapy, brain disorders
MeSH terms
Alzheimer Disease, Animals, Brain, Gene Expression Regulation, Histones, Humans, Memory, RNA, Untranslated, Epigenesis, Genetic

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