Neurons aren't the only cells in our brain that help us create memories

Neurons aren't the only cells in our brain that help us create memories.

In fact, there is another type of cell that plays a crucial role in forming and storing long-term memories. These cells are known as pericytes, which are found in the walls of blood vessels in the brain.

Pericytes have crucial roles in our body, like forming blood vessels, controlling the entry of immune cells into the central nervous system, and maintaining the blood-brain barrier.

But now it is discovered that they also help in making and storing long-term memories.

Pericytes collaborate with neurons in the memory-making process by producing a protein called insulin-like growth factor 2 (or IGF2). When we learn something new, the production of IGF2 increases in the hippocampus, a region of the brain involved in learning, memory formation. Neurons in this memory center activate pericytes, prompting them to produce IGF2. This collaborative process is essential for creating long-term memories. In experiments with mice and rats, blocking pericytes from producing IGF2 impaired the animals' ability to remember things. This suggests that pericytes are essential for neurons to form lasting memories. This discovery expands our understanding of memory formation and may someday help us devise new treatments for diseases like Alzheimer's.