UCLA researchers claim lost memories aren't gone forever and recovering them may offer hope to those suffering from the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease.

Neuroscientists believe the brain keeps memories in connections between neurons called synapses that are destroyed by Alzheimer's Disease. This current study also yielded evidence that contradicts the assumption that long term memory is stored in the synapses, says David Glanzman, co-author of the study.

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According to researchers, these memory traces aren't actually stored in the synapses. Neurons actually have their own memory of how many synapses it will connect to other neurons as these synapses are simply expressions of these memories.

So even if Alzheimer's disease destroys these synapses, memories will remain intact and it's a possibility they can be reactivated by this "reminder" stimulus.

Glanzman says the nervous system has the ability to regenerate lost connections from synapses and when these are restored, memories will naturally come back. This process won't be easy but it's certainly doable.

Glanzman believes this study will have significant applications for those suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

The team noted that if memories aren't destroyed and aren't located in the synapses, they can be found somewhere else. These memories are probably in the nucleus of neurons but further study and experiments should prove that.

The team believes that when the neurons are still alive, then memories should also be intact. It also should be possible to recover them when they get lost, especially during the early stages of Alzheimer's.

During the later stages of Alzheimer's, however, the neurons die-off and this is the point where memories can no longer be salvaged.

TagsScientists Reveal How to Restore Lost Memory, Alzheimer's Disease, neurons, how to restore lost memory