Inhibiting a brain molecule that protects against viral infections could lead the way for the development of memory- boosting drugs, according to new research.

Scientists from Baylor College of Medicine found that genetically enhanced mice without the protein PKR in their brains develop a "super" memory. The genetically enhanced mice were able to use visual cues to find a hidden platform in a circular pool after only one training session. Ordinary mice with PKR had to repeat the task multiple times over many days to find the platform's location. Using a drug to inhibit PKR also improved the mice's memory.

"PKR is a protein kinase which was originally described as a sensor of viral genome. We knew nothing about PKR's role in brain processes," said Dr. Mauro Costa-Mattioli, assistant professor of neuroscience at BCM and senior author of the paper.

PKR plays an important role in defending the body against viral infections but its role in the brain had never been explained before. Costa-Mattioli and colleagues found that when PKR is inhibited, there is increased synaptic activity caused by gamma interfon, another molecule involved in immunity.

"These data are totally unexpected, and show that two molecules classically known to play a role in viral infection and the immune response regulate the kind of brain activity that leads to the formation of long-term memory in the adult brain," Costa-Mattioli said.

The process could be replicated with a PKR inhibitor- a small molecule that blocks PKR activity. The PKR inhibitor could act as a memory-enhancing drug.

"It is indeed quite amazing that we can also enhance both memory and brain activity with a drug that specifically targets PKR. Definitely then, the next step is to use what we have learned in mice and to try to improve brain function in people suffering from memory loss," said Costa-Mattioli.

The memory pill still needs to be exhaustively tested and more experiments are necessary before human studies can be started. The findings are published in the scientific journal Cell.